Pies Generate Good Will in Farming Town

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. -- Pies are making a difference in Hastings.

Malea Guiriba cheerfully greets all her customers when they walk into her shop, Pie in the Sky.

It's located on Main Street in Hastings, right next to the popular restaurant Johnny's Kitchen.

Guiriba said it plainly. "Pie makes people happy. They love to say 'pie.' Pie. It's a happy word."

For four years, Guiriba was a rural advocate in Hastings with the Betty Griffin House. She made many contacts with people in the small farming town and also learned about the poverty many people struggle with in Hastings.

However, in June the grant money for her position ran out, but Guiriba did not want to leave Hastings or its people.

With some help from those who knew how much Guiriba could still help Hastings, she stayed. In August, she opened Pie in the Sky.

Guiriba makes and sells the pies. Johnny Barnes, owner of Johnny's Kitchen, lets Guiriba use his kitchen next door to make them.

The profits support community projects for people she knows need help in Hastings. Guiriba especially wants to help the people who've fallen through the cracks and have nowhere else to turn.

Those projects include wheelchair ramps and house repairs.

Guiriba has gathered people in the community to pitch in on the projects. She beamed when she explained how an out-of-work carpenter, foster children, and even farm workers participated in the projects.

"We utilized the talents the community has," Guiriba explained. "It's amazing what people can do if you let them."

The Sertoma Club of St. Augustine, the St. Johns Housing Partnership, and St. Johns County Health and Human Services have also worked with Pie in the Sky.

Local artist Katheryn Marsh volunteers as well. "I think it's amazing. Hastings needs help and this is a really good way to solve some problems quickly," she said.

Since August, Pie in the Sky has helped support seven community projects. More are in the works.

The shop is also a country store. It sells items that locals make, such as jellies, sauces and artwork. Many of the people who supply the goods are in need too, Guiriba said. Pie in the Sky makes a small profit on the goods and Guiriba makes sure the artisans and cooks also benefit.

However, the pie is the big attraction. One man who purchased a pie Tuesday said, "It's the best pie, except for my wife's, of course!"

Sales are picking up too. The brightly painted "Pie Today" sign that sits on the side of Main Street used to be out only one day a week. Now it's usually out Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Guiriba said, "You're getting a pie, but you're also making a contribution to a community building itself back up, so it's a win, win, win."

Guiriba said she has pie in the sky hopes for helping Hastings, one pie and person at a time.

You can reach Pie in the Sky at 904-692-3902.

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