My name is Miriam. As a member of the Ames, Iowa and Iowa State University student community, I shop at Fresh Thyme Farmers Market anywhere from 2 to 8 times per month. During these shopping trips, I am always greeted with smiles and "How can I help you find what you're looking for?" I have always been impressed with the freshness of the produce and the great selection of gluten-free options, which is important to me as I have quite a few dietary restrictions.

My boyfriend and I frequent the store in order to find vegetarian options that fit into our student budget, and we are always pleased to be able to leave with our reusable bags FULL of fresh produce for just $20 or so each visit. Though the prices of the store is one of our favorite benefits, the local Ames community also benefits greatly from the store's donations of money and food. I was faced with food insecurity back in 2017 and visited our local food pantry, Food at First, and found many foodstuffs courtesy of Fresh Thyme. This just demonstrates one area that our local Fresh Thyme store has benefitted, though many others have also been helped through their reusable bag sales and monthly fund drives that our store holds.

The Ames Fresh Thyme is set to close on November 16, 2019, due to sales below what the corporate level management believes they should be. However, I know that the Ames community, my Ames Community, can turn this around. A large majority of the population in Ames frequents the summer Farmer's Market held in downtown Ames. With that having ended this past Saturday, I believe that the increase in sales at Fresh Thyme will increase over the winter as their produce and customer service, as well as Farmers Market feel, will entice more Ames members to frequent their store. 

I have started this petition to request, to deeply implore anyone reading this to sign this petition, and then go and give your business to the Ames, Iowa Fresh Thyme! Show them we appreciate their part and position in our community and find a way, together, to keep them local and easily located off of Duff Avenue. Please sign to show CEO Chris Sherrell (who was quoted saying "We put our shoppers first") that, to put us first, we need to have access to this great local store. After signing, please share!!