Businesses all over the United States have been hit incredibly hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the family-owned Maltby Café in Washington state is no different. Luckily for them, however, their community of Snohomish is going above and beyond to make sure they survive the coronavirus pandemic.

For the past 36 years, the tiny family owned Maltby Café has been serving the community, but it has unfortunately seen a staggering 90 percent drop in business since the start of the pandemic. When the second shut-down came about, co-owner Tana Baulmer resigned herself to the fact that it was time to close the restaurant permanently.

“I got on my knees and I cried and I said, ‘God, I need a miracle’,” Baulmer told KING 5.

Sure enough, her prayers were answered!

As word spread around Snohomish that the Maltby Café would be closing, thousands of regular customers started brainstorming ways that they could save the beloved restaurant.

“This is one of those places that when a friend or a relative comes into town, your first thought is, ‘I’m gonna take them to The Maltby Cafe for breakfast,” said Daniel Ray, who has been going to the establishment for over twenty years.

Regulars at the restaurant ended up setting up a GoFundMe page for the establishment, and in less than a week, it’s raised over $141,000!

“Small family run businesses have suffered greatly in these past months and The Maltby Café is one of those small family businesses that is struggling to stay open,” Jim Barger, who organized the fundraiser, wrote on the GoFundMe page.

“The owners did not want to ask for financial assistance from their customer base however they need your help!” he added. “Any amount of support to help cover the devastating affects of our environment would go along way to helping keep staff, provide insurance for their employees and continue to operate.”

Baulmer could not be more touched by what her community has done for her and the business she loves. She’s even referring to their act of kindness as her “Miracle at Maltby,” which came just in time for Christmas!

“I feel very humbled by this,” she said. “I see the light at the end of the tunnel.”