In just two days, about two dozen people packed about 500 meals for displaced families in Colorado wildfires.
A dining area of the Tailgate Tavern and Grill in downtown Parker turned into a makeshift assembly line Oct. 22 and 23. Parker residents banded together to pack the meals for families who have been evacuated by the Cameron Peak and East Troublesome fires.
John Jordan, Tailgate owner and organizer of the event, said the group donated meals to the Red Cross for victims of the Cameron Peak Fire. Jordan said the group felt compelled to double their efforts after hearing about the quick-spreading East Troublesome Fire.
“We always try and give back and do a little extra to help people out, especially what they've been going through,” Jordan said.
Transportation in and out of the burn areas has limited supplies for people evacuating the fires, including food.
Jordan and his team dropped off 250 meals Oct. 22. Food and water is the greatest need for displaced families right now, an emergency responder told Jordan.
Jordan put a word out on Facebook to recruit as many volunteers as possible to help assemble to meals.
The Tailgate's food company, Sysco, donated 180 pounds of meat and 80 pounds of cheese. Aspen Baking Co., based in Denver, donated more than 500 sub rolls. Jordan had two flatbed trailers full of cases of water. Jordan said he received so many supplies he wasn't sure if he could haul it all up in one trip.
The two fires, on either side of Rocky Mountain National Park in the northern Front Range, have burned almost 400,000 acres. Cameron Peak and East Troublesome have become, respectively, the two largest wildfires in the state's history.
