Laura and Josh Puchalski at the Boothbay Harbor bakery Farm 23 are holding a raffle this month to benefit their fellow business owners in the region.

Laura baked up the idea for a raffle after hearing Gov. Janet Mills’ four-phase plan to reopen the state’s economy, and after hearing how many small businesses were following Mills’ plan by not opening, or closing if a year round business, or altering their operations, as is the case of restaurants serving curbside.

“Small businesses following the plan were finding out that the help that was promised to them in the form of loans or unemployment wasn't there, they were denied, or couldn't get into the system at all, or that curbside pickup wasn't enough to sustain them,” she said. “I was trying to find a way to get money into the hands of local business owners right now, and I started thinking about gift cards.”

Although the public was being encouraged to buy gift cards to help these businesses, Laura thought the idea needed an element of fun and excitement – like a prize!

“So I combined those ideas into the raffle to encourage people to seek out business owners, buy gift cards, drop them here at Farm 23 (or mail them) and for every $5 in gift cards they bring in, they get one entry to win the whole pot on May 31,” she explained.

To get the word out, Laura and Josh made a video, posted it to the bakery’s Facebook and Instagram accounts and encouraged business owners to share it. The couple also encouraged them to share the gift certificate/raffle with regular customers if they had contact information for them. This information included how to buy a gift certificate from that business.

Laura and Josh are pleased to feature closed businesses on Farm 23’s pages to help get out the word on how to buy a gift certificate from them. Customers can also email the couple at info@farm23bbh.com and ask to arrange to pay online or over the phone. Laura suggests having  the business of choice send the certificates to Farm 23 with the name and contact phone number of the buyer. The gift cards are pouring in. On Farm 23’s Facebook page a few days ago, the certificates totaled over $1,400!

On May 31, a name will be drawn from the huge jar on the counter at Farm 23. The winner gets all of the gift certificates! How’s that for fun and excitement?

Since Farm 23 opened last September, it has had consistent support from the community, so much so, Laura and Josh want to give back.

“Businesses should always work together to build community and improve life for everyone here, and they work so, so hard to do that,” Laura said. “I would argue that small businesses are more than the backbone of the economy. They are the heart and soul of a town.

“They're your hardworking friends and neighbors who are there when you need them to donate to school events, raise money for struggling families and provide much needed goods and services to the community. We cannot lose that.”

Farm 23 is at 102 Ocean Point Road/Route 96. The bakery’s COVID-19 hours are 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to noon Sunday, and closed Monday and Tuesday.

For more on Farm 23 and the raffle, visit https://www.farm23bbh.com, email info@farm23bbh.com, or call 315-6833.