caption:

Darla Rilling, holding the bow, stands with her family/staff after Little Lucy Snack Shoppe's welcome to downtown Putnam. The bow from the ribbon cutting and the plaque given to her by the Putnam Business Association are there. More photos Wed. night on our FB page: Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger. Linda Lemmon photo.

'Little Lucy' goes for the good

By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — Using something as simple as a snack to enact change.
At the official welcome to Little Lucy Snacks Shoppe last week, there was definitely a doing-good-for-the-community vibe.
Snacks offered by the shop inside the Montgomery Ward building are organic and many of them are fund-raisers for worthy community causes.
Deputy Mayor Roy Simmons welcomed the shop saying her business model was giving “right out of the gate.” Putnam Business Association past president Gary Osbrey also welcomed the business.
Carly DeLuca, Economic and Community Development director, said Darla Rilling had worked in the natural foods industry and brought all that, plus compassion and giving to the shop.
“One day (a few years ago) while downtown, she wandered into the Putnam Economic Development Office on Main Street and got to talking with my predecessor, Delpha (Very). Delpha recognized the potential Darla and her idea had — not only did she have an extensive background in natural foods and marketing, but she has an impressive drive and a compassion for her community.”
Then COVID hit. Rilling carried on with her idea, just without a storefront.
DeLuca said: “Darla has taken a winding path to get here, but we are so happy she is. Little Lucy’s Snack Shoppe opened in the summer of 2022 online while delivering within a 10-mile radius.”
Opening the storefront, Rilling said, was a “long-standing dream.” She said she believes people bond over simple things like snacks and food. She said she aims to be a “happy spot.” “Hopefully everyone feels welcome.”
DeLuca added: “One of the aspects of this business I find the most interesting is its commitment to ethical responsibility. Every brand Darla decides to work with has a charitable component, either socially or environmentally. An example of this is her veteran-owned sodas where every purchase of a soda will donate $1 to Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse. Another great resource she offers is to be a retail incubator for emerging brands. She allows her storefront to be a classroom — trying out different packaging, sizing, and pricing on items.”
And who is Little Lucy? Rilling showed off a photo of an orange cat. “This is Little Lucy, our little snack bandit.”

.