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SALT LAKE CITY -- With no job, no health insurance and a terminal brain tumor, Jake Western had no way to support his young family.
But with the help of a community, a little store is making it possible for Jake and his family to get by.
At the corner of Filmore and Stratford in Salt Lake City is a commercial building that holds an accounting firm, a law office and now a boutique/consignment store.
Sat. Oct. 23
10 a.m. - 6 pm.
1555 E. Stratford Ave. Ste 500
Salt Lake City
The owner of the building donated the space. Neighbors rallied to fill it with new and vintage treasures. From clothes to furniture, the little store holds something for everyone.
The store is called For Jake's Sake, and Jake says it is saving his family.
"Aside from the financial help, it's just given Amber and I the chance to focus on something else, something positive," he says.
I walk over to the store and it's just a shot in the arm. It picks my spirits up. It makes me think I can do it, I can beat this.
–Jake Western
In June, Jake lost his job. One month later he was diagnosed with brain cancer.
"I was just terrified because we have a family. We have kids. We have school. We have bills and neither one of us could work at the time," says Amber Western, Jake's wife.
Amber came up with the idea for the store when she noticed the vacant office space one day after she dropped her kids off at school. Still, the idea of opening and stocking a store seemed overwhelming in the middle of Jake's cancer treatments.
That's when the Westerns' neighbors stepped in to help.
"The neighborhood's been so wonderful. It's like a dream," Amber says. "It feels like Mayberry -- just this little perfect town where everyone wants to help each other and love each other."
The location of the store couldn't be more ideal for the Westerns. They live right around the corner, which will make it easier for them to juggle their three kids and Jake's cancer treatments with managing the store.
Neighbors have also volunteered to cover shifts.
"I walk over to the store and it's just a shot in the arm," says Jake. "It picks my spirits up. It makes me think I can do it, I can beat this."
The Westerns realize they face a fierce fight against Jake's cancer, but say they feel great peace knowing they have an army of support behind them.
This little store proves it.
E-mail: cmadsen@ksl.com
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