Local Carson City companies offered cash, gift bags and pet food at Brewery Arts Center to help struggling locals Friday
Submitted by Kelsey Penrose on Fri, 03/20/2020 - 2:53pm
Carson City’s local businesses the Change Companies and Benson's Feed teamed up Friday afternoon at the Brewery Arts Center to offer a drive-thru for residents where they served up bags of non-perishables, dog and cat food, and $100 bills.
Co-Founders and owners of the Change Companies, Don and Sherry Kuhl, came up with the idea for a helping drive thru Thursday afternoon and within 24 hours, with help from Benson’s Feed Store and the North Carson Savemart, the drive thru was up and running.
“The plan was to have 200 of the bags and 200 $100 bills, and I think we’re almost out,” said Don around 2 p.m., after they had opened the drive thru about two hours prior. “I’m loving how many cars have come through already.”
The bags were filled with non-perishable items such as canned goods, cereals, soups, and more, and staff members were also handing out individual $100 bills to those who came through the drive thru.
“I know some people may take advantage of it,” said Don. “But I’m guessing 4 out of 5 of the people we’ve helped today could really use it.”
Don approached Jim Benson of Benson’s Feed and Tack in Carson City just this morning, who donated somewhere around a thousand pounds of dog and cat food to help the cause.
“He wouldn’t let me pay him a dime,” said Don. “He filled the whole back of our pick-up. He was just marvelous for us.”
Don believes its the personal responsibility of corporations to support their local communities during times of hardship.
“I think corporations have a personal responsibility to take care of their communities, so I thought, ‘how can we do this in an appropriate way so we’re not hurting anyone’,” said Don. “I thought this would be one really nice way of doing it.”
The Change Companies has been a part of Carson for about 30 years, said Don, and they feel it’s their duty to give back to the community they call home.
“We're simply doing our part. If good, successful private companies can step up, this is the time to do it,” said Don. “This is a big thing, not only locally but for our entire country. This is the great opportunity to offer help. Do it now, don’t overthink it.”
Don would like to see other businesses in Carson City to step up and see how they can help to get people through these tumultuous times and help each other out.
“I’m particularly concerned with tipped employees that lost their jobs,” said Don. “A lot of people don’t have several months of cash saved up. This is a matter of trying to do the right thing.”
At this point in time, there are no concrete plans for when or if another drive-thru will come about, but Don believes they’ll be doing something else soon to help the community.
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