FK Your Diet customer finds full-circle purpose

FORT MYERS, Fla. —

At Fort Myers' FK Your Diet, Doug Miller hears the chatter of his customers, the sausage sizzling on the stove — but there's one sound that's forever seared in his brain.

For months on Friday mornings, Miller would hear someone yell "pay day" from the counter before ordering their meal.

"Ron likes biscuits and gravy, and cheese on everything," said Miller.

On cue, Miller would cook cheesy biscuits and gravy — until one Friday, when Ron didn't show up.

"Next time I see him, you know, he doesn't have the money. You know, 'Do you know anybody hiring?'" said Miller.

Miller didn't know much about Ron other than the fact that he was a single dad, out of a job, struggling to put food on the table.

"You're wishing on a star someone can take you because you've been applying and applying," said Ron Darden.

"I thought I'd be able to give him a few hours, you know, help him out with some money. I told him and his family they could eat here whenever they wanted, don't worry about paying," said Miller.

Darden's been waiting tables at the restaurant since, and through a friend at FK, is now in stable housing.

"Bills are piling up, and my girls now got a place," said Darden.

For Miller, that's what matters: that his customers are fed. That the mission of his restaurant is alive. That the help he shows others is passed on.

"My hope is I created another giver, another helper. If I did that, that's a pretty good return on investment," said Miller.

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