Jerry Dixon, owner of Big Dog’s food truck in Monroe, Washington is living his dream of operating a business with his son. “For more than six years, I’ve been selling Washington’s Best Hot Dogs and working side by side with my son,” says Dixon. “You can’t put a price on that.”

Yet, the dream has run into the reality of the pandemic lately, with sales for his event-reliant business down around 60% for the year. They had to make some hard choices with regard to other employees and equipment during the lull.

Even with the setbacks, the Dixon’s remain committed to helping their community. “When the pandemic started, we moved our truck to the Monroe Boys and Girls Club and offered free lunches to the kids,” says Dixon. “With Columbia Bank helping to cover the tab, we are going to continue to provide meals to children in our community. A lot of people need help right now and we are doing what we do best – provide the best hotdogs, free of charge!”