LUSK – Subway is giving away free cookies on Fridays for Niobrara County School District students, staff and now parents too.
While schools are not holding in-person classes during the social-distancing mandates surrounding COVID-19, Subway owners Tyler and Kim Schiele are still showing Tiger pride.
“I wanted to be able to help the school and just kind of show that ‘hey, we’re not just a large corporate franchise – these are your local folks,’” Schiele said.
As an event that began in February, the Schiele’s and their staff were giving out free Subway cookies to students and staff and extended it out to the parents.
“We started it in February. Now, with the virus, we are including parents as they are now a part of the ‘educational team’ too,” Schiele said.

Schiele said they have a lot of students who stop in and may not buy anything, past getting their free cookie but leave with a smile.
“Even if it’s just a 3-inch circle of happiness, that’s good for us. You know, that’s what it’s about—being neighbors and taking care of each other,” Schiele said. “We try to bring some joy to everyone.”
The Lusk Subway also picks a business to deliver fresh cookies to around the area three times per week.
Schiele said the community has truly supported the business and each other during these tough times.
As a way to support local businesses as well as their neighbors, Schiele said they have had some people come in to buy meals for others in a pay it forward gesture.
“I had one lady that bought dozens of cookies and had me deliver them to different businesses in town, so I just wrote on the bowl that the cookies were in, ‘this is from a local angel,’” Schiele said. “It’s been, that is really neat too, because they obviously understand, one bringing joy to people, but also trying to take care of local businesses and the local people by doing something like that.”
The Schiele’s are planning to continue the free cookie Fridays as long as they are able to.
“I enjoy making people smile,” Schiele said.