Donuts with a Purpose
AN INTERVIEW WITH DONUT SAM’S, MENOMONIE’S NEWEST DONUT SHOP
Donut Sam’s sprang open last March right in the heart of downtown Menomonie. This beautiful little shop is operated by Tanya and Michael Husby who are passionate about serving the local community some fresh donuts and coffee. Word on the Street (WOTS) got the chance this summer to hang out with the Husbys and learn more about their mission to infuse the downtown Menomonie scene with college-friendly breakfast bites, all while transforming the world of work for kids with disabilities.
WOTS: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START A DONUT SHOP?
Tanya and Michael (T & M): We lived in the suburbs of Chicago, which was fun when you don’t have kids but decided after having a kid that it wasn’t the best place to raise him. So, we quit our jobs and moved up to Menomonie because we had some family in the area. When we got here we began to wonder why there wasn’t a donut shop in Menomonie. This town has great lunches, but when you think of breakfast, the options narrow. We wanted to create a space where people can meet for a quick bite and coffee in downtown Menomonie. Now a Stout student can come in here with $3 and leave with a good cup of coffee (or tea) and a couple of donuts.
WOTS: WHAT IS THE STORY BEHIND YOUR MISSION STATEMENT, “BE INSPIRED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE ONE DONUT AT A TIME”?
T & M: We wanted to create an “UpSkill” program for kids with special needs as a stepping stone between their school and an actual employer. It is where they would be able to make mistakes in a safe environment and learn from them. It would also allow us the opportunity to teach them in-depth life skills like cleaning and serving others. In the future we would also love to collaborate with the local downtown to see if we could help create part-time jobs.
WOTS: HOW DOES YOUR SON SAM INSPIRE THE DONUT FLAVORS?
T & M: It is a family thing. For example, Preston, our middle kiddo nicknamed “Pudge,” likes fruity cereal with vanilla, so he inspired the donut named “Pudge”. The “Big Papi” is a donut for Dad who is a big Red Socks fan, and the kids are too. It has maple, bacon, and chocolate on it. We like to have fun with different names like that. We do experiment with a lot of different combinations, and Sam gets to taste them all.
WOTS: WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO STOP IN FOR A DONUT?
T & M: We are open every day (except Sundays and Wednesdays) from 7 to 11 am. We will see how it goes and add onto it from there. It would be great to get a feel for what else is going on downtown and to see how we could collaborate with other businesses to see where we could lift one another up.
Besides at the shop (521 2nd Street E), their donuts can be found at Bob and Steve’s Amoco gas station and Cut Rite Meat Shoppe in Menomonie, as well as at Woodman’s in Altoona.