Serve Daily celebrates five years in publication

Springville resident Chris Baird has always felt strongly about providing service to his friends, family, neighbors - even strangers. He lives by the motto, “Pay it Forward,” meaning if people receive the kindness of others, they should seek to continue that kindness by doing service for someone else.

A little over five years ago, Baird recognized a need in the community and began to ponder how he could fill it. Most of the weekly newspapers in Utah County had shut down in recent years, and residents greatly missed having a way to read the news of their own local communities. Baird had never been in the newspaper business before, but his desire to serve the community led him to explore the industry and begin his own business.

In June 2012, Baird published his first newspaper with two goals: to provide the news of southern Utah County to that area’s residents and to encourage residents to serve others. With that in mind, he named his newspaper Serve Daily.

“I wanted to start the newspaper because I had/have the desire to serve. I wanted to help people have a voice and a public place they can share their thoughts with the community. I hoped it would bring a sense of community and help people to serve daily those around them. There is deep meaning in the title of the paper,” Baird said.

Serve Daily is now published once a month and distributed at a variety of locations in southern Utah County communities from Springville to Santaquin. (See servedaily.com/distribution for a complete list of locations.)

Residents can pick up the newspaper for free wherever they find Serve Daily.

Inside, they will find news about local schools, businesses, events, city celebrations and more.

Much of the content of Serve Daily comes from its readers, who can submit articles and information online at www. servedaily.com/submit. Residents are also invited to submit their information online for the Serve Daily community calendar, which can be seen at www.servedaily. com/calendar and is published in the newspaper.

Serve Daily encourages readers to submit information about their life events such as weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, Eagle Scout Awards and projects, births and obituaries. Use the Life’s Event option on the submission page.

“I would like to see people submit important life events and articles about things happening in South Utah County because I believe that when people work together and share the good, more good is created. That is why we focus on the positive!” Baird said. “Serve Daily is south Utah County’s source for information and inspiration.”

Serve Daily also coordinates multiple other projects to promote good in the communities such as the RAKM Project, which encourages people to commit random acts of kindness and pass on #RAKM cards available at local businesses (see complete list at servedaily.com/rakm). Readers are also encouraged to visit servedaily.com/gratitude and participate in the #SDGRATITUDE Project through sharing the things they are grateful for.

“We are excited to have been in print for five years and are looking forward to continued growth and success,” Baird said.