Montezuma County Pulls Together to Feed Medical Frontline

DESPITE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND STAY AT HOME ORDERS,  COMMUNITIES ARE COMING TOGETHER TO WAGE WAR ON THE CORONA VIRUS. THE NEW FRONTLINE IS MADE UP OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS, WHO WORK TIRELESSLY TO BATTLE A LARGELY UNKNOWN VIRUS TO SAVE LIVES. ONE LOCAL MONTEZUMA BUSINESS IS DOING THEIR PART TO KEEP THE NEW FRONTLINE “FUELED FOR ACTION.” THANKS FOR WATCHING THE LOCAL NEWS NETWORK, BROUGHT TO YOU BY FASTSIGNS OF DURANGO, MORE THAN FAST, MORE THAN SIGNS. I’M WENDY GRAHAM SETTLE WHEN COVID-19 STARTED DISRUPTING COLORADO BUSINESSES, J. FARGOS FAMILY DINING AND MICRO BREWERY IN CORTEZ HAD A SUPPLY OF FOOD THAT WAS GOING TO GO BAD AFTER RESTAURANTS CLOSED AND SALES ALL BUT STOPPED. THE RESTAURANT STILL OFFERED CARRY OUT BUT INDOOR DINING AND BAR BUSINESS WAS “COMPLETELY SHOT”, SAYS GENERAL MANAGER, TIFFANY GHERE.GHERE ISN’T THE KIND OF PERSON TO GIVE UP EASILY AND WASN’T ABOUT TO FOLD UP SHOP.SHE STARTED THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX. HOW COULD HER FOOD SUPPLIES BE USED TO SUPPORT THE WORKERS THAT WERE SUPPORTING HER COMMUNITY?THAT’S WHEN “FEEDING THE FRONTLINE” WAS BORN. SHE AND HER VOLUNTEER STAFF STARTED COOKING UP DELICIOUS AND NUTRITIOUS MEALS TO FEED EMERGENCY ROOM WORKERS, POLICE DISPATCHERS AND OFFICERS, AND FIREFIGHTERS.  SHE’S FOCUSED ON FEEDING EMERGENCY ROOM STAFF AROUND THE CLOCK, INCLUDING THOSE WORKING THE LATE NIGHT AND EARLY SHIFTS. GHERE SAYS, “THEY CAN’T LEAVE TO EAT, ARE WORKING LONG 10-15 HOUR SHIFTS, AND ARE THE MOST AT RISK BY CARING FOR THE VERY SICK.” SHE HOPES THAT BY NOURISHING THEM WITH HER MEALS, IT WILL HELP THEM KEEP GOING WHILE THE GOING GETS TOUGHER.IN ADDITION TO FEEDING THE FRONTLINE, WHEN SHE’S ABLE, GHERE OFFERS TO DELIVER MEALS TO THOSE IN NEED BY PUTTING OUT THE CALL ON THE “MONTEZUMA COUNTY NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS”FACEBOOK PAGE.GHERE’S END GOAL IS FOR THE FRONTLINE HEAR THE MESSAGE LOUD AND CLEAR: “THE COMMUNITY SUPPORTS YOU, WE’RE HERE FOR YOU”. HOWEVER, AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF THE STAY-AT-HOME MANDATE, J. FARGOS IS FEELING THE BUSINESS IMPACT. GHERE WONDERS HOW LONG J. FARGOS ALONE, CAN SUSTAIN THIS IMPORTANT EFFORT.  GHERE SAYS, “THIS IS NOT A 1 OR 2 MONTH PROCESS. THIS IS REDEFINING HOW WE DO BUSINESS. HOW CAN WE KEEPSUPPORTING THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY?” IF YOU’D LIKE TO FEED THE FRONTLINE, YOU CAN BUY A J. FARGOS GIFT CARD, OR MAKE A DONATION THAT IS SET ASIDE STRICTLY FOR THE CAMPAIGN. FOR AROUND $15, J FARGO’S CAN FEED 1 FRONTLINE EMPLOYEE.OR, CONSIDER BUYING A MEAL FROM J.FARGOS FOR A FRONTLINE EMPLOYEE WHEN YOU PLACE AN ORDER FOR YOUR SELF AND YOUR FAMILY. FOR MORE, GO TO J.FARGOS.COM THANKS FOR WATCHING THIS EDITION OF THE LOCAL NEWS NETWORK.VISIT OUR WEB SITE AND SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTERS TO RECEIVE NEWS UPDATES IN YOUR EMAIL.YOU’LL ALSO FIND PAST STORIES AND OTHER INFORMATION.IN THE MEANTIME, PLEASE DO YOUR PART TO STOP THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 AND STAY HOME. PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING WHEN YOU’RE OUT AND ABOUT, AND SEND US YOUR POSITIVE MESSSAGE FOR THE FRONT-LINE WORKERS WHO ARE FIGHTING THE PANDEMIC.WE’LL SHARE THEM ON THE AIR, ON OUR WEB SITE AND OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.I’M WENDY GRAHAM SETTLE.