The Ute Cafe, with the help of a coalition of non-profits and faith communities, is feeding the armada of truckers passing through Montezuma County to deliver supplies across the country.
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WITH COVID-19 PRACTICALLYGRINDING LIFE AS WE KNOW IT TO A HALT, TRUCKERS ARE AT THE FRONTLINEOF KEEPING THE WORLD TURNING, TASKED WITH STOCKING AND RE-STOCKINGTHE NATION WITH SUPPLIES.
THETRUCKING INDUSTRY IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR SURVIVAL AND THE CONTAINMENT OFTHE DISEASE. BUT WITH RESTAURANTS CLOSED TO SIT-DOWN DINING, TRUCKERSARE CHALLENGED TO SAFELY STOP, REST AND RE-FUEL THEIR BELLIES(STOMACHS?) IN THE NEW WORLD ORDER.
LISAPASSELL, OWNER OF TO THE PENNY TAX SERVICE IN CORTEZ AND THE CREATOROF THE “MONTEZUMA COUNTY NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS” FACEBOOKPAGE, IS LEADING AN EFFORT TO TAKE CARE OF TRUCKERS, SO THEY CANCONTINUE TO TAKE CARE OF US.
PASSELLSAYS, “BIG RIGS CAN’T GO THROUGH DRIVE-THROUGHS AND IT’SDIFFICULT FOR TRUCKERS TO PARK IN MOST NON-TRUCK STOP SPOTS, LIKERESTAURANTS, WHERE CURBSIDE DELIVERY IS AVAILABLE.”
AS THEDAUGHTER OF A TRUCKER HERSELF, AND AN INVOLVED MONTEZUMA BUSINESSOWNER AND COMMUNITY MEMBER, SHE WAS DETERMINED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TOTAKE CARE OF THEM.
“OPERATIONTHANK A TRUCKER,” KICKED OFF MONDAY, MARCH 30. IT’S ACOMMUNITY-WIDE EFFORT BETWEEN THE SALVATION ARMY, THE UTE CAFE, THEEVANGEL ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH, AND MONTEZUMA COUNTY NEIGHBORSHELPING NEIGHBORS, TO TAKE CARE OF TRUCKERS.
THE UTECAFE IS SUPPLYING UP TO 100 TO-GO MEALS PER DAY FOR TRUCKERS DURINGAT LEAST THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.
TO KEEPEVERYONE SAFE FROM SPREADING CORONA, THE TRUCKERS ARE ASKED TO STAYIN THEIR TRUCKS, AND MEALS ARE BROUGHT TO THEM.
INADDITION TO MEALS, EACH TRUCKER RECEIVES A BAG WITH WATER ANDPRE-PACKAGED SNACKS (LIKE CRACKERS, JERKY, OR NUTS), WITH A COLOREDPICTURE OR THANK YOU CARD MADE BY AREA CHILDREN.
THE UTECAFE, LOCATED ON 17 S. BROADWAY, IN CORTEZ IS OPEN 6 AM TO 8 PM,MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, AND SUNDAYS 7:30 AM TO 1:30 PM (EXCEPTEASTER) WITH RESTROOMS OPEN TO TRUCKERS.
AS ANADDED BONUS, PASSELL SAYS, “NOT ONLY ARE WE HELPING TRUCKERS, THISPROGRAM HELPS THE UTE CAFE STAY IN BUSINESS DURING THE STAY-AT-HOMEORDER.”
THEPROGRAM GOT STARTED WITH A SMALL AMOUNT OF INITIAL FUNDING AND FOODDONATIONS. BUT, ADDITIONAL FUNDS AND FOOD DONATIONS ARE NEEDEDIMMEDIATELY TO CONTINUE THE MEALS.
BOTTLEDWATER AND PRE-PACKAGED SNACK FOOD DONATIONS ARE BEING ACCEPTED INCORTEZ AT THE SALVATION ARMY ON 201 N. PINION DRIVE AND “TO THEPENNY” TAX SERVICE AT 33 S. MARKET STREET DURING HOURS OFOPERATION.
FORFUNDS TO BE AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY,FINANCIALDONATIONS CAN BE MADE TO THE EVANGEL ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH WITH“OUTREACH. DRIVER MEALS” IN THE MEMO LINE.
THEORGANIZERS ARE ASKING COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH CB RADIOS TO SPREAD THEWORD AND TO LET TRUCKERS KNOW.
CONTACTMONTEZUMACARES@GMAIL.COMFOR MORE INFORMATION.
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