When Mulholland Grocery burned down, Tom didn’t just lose his family business…his town almost lost its heart.

Tom Mulholland owns the only grocery store in Malvern, Iowa. His family’s run it for 150 years. It’s the kind of place where people aren’t just customers, they’re neighbors. And when someone’s between paychecks, Tom quietly makes sure they’re still taken care of.

People used to drive hours away for Tom’s meat counter, and that foot traffic kept other Main Street shops alive. After the fire, that business disappeared overnight and with only convenience stores nearby, families suddenly had to drive 20+ miles just to find fresh produce. The town had become a food desert.

Tom could’ve taken the insurance money and retired. Instead, he rebuilt because walking away would’ve meant watching his town slowly die.

After three years of grit and hope, he reopened the doors in December 2024. But rebuilding cost more than insurance could cover, leaving him with over $700k in loans he’s now paying from his retirement savings.

This National Small Business Week, let’s show up for one of the people who never stopped showing up for everyone else.

Help us relieve some of Tom’s loans and show what’s possible when we stand behind the people who keep our communities alive.

To learn more about Tom, Mulholland Grocery, and the devastating aftermath of the fire, watch this short film by Academy Award winner Rayka Zehtabchi.