Kristy Tallman
Christopher Marocco, the owner of Local Grindz Hawaiian food truck located at 800 Long Street, wasn’t about to let folks go hungry during the storm. He decided rather than lose the food due to the extended power outages he would offer free meals to seniors and families with small children.
“I just had extra food available to me and luckily I didn’t lose power at my house. I just wanted to do something to help out.”
During the storm Meals on Wheels was unable to deliver and seniors who received the benefit were advised to use their emergency packets. This left the elders in the community wondering where their next meal might come from. Knowing this Marocco took action.
Marocco prepared one of his special dishes called Sweet Hawaiian Chicken. The dish is a pineapple chicken slow cooked with a brown sugar glaze.
He put out a call to those around town letting them know he was offering food to those in need, He asked them to directly message him if they were in trouble.
It wasn’t long before people began to respond. Marocco said, “I was sold out within a couple of hours.”
Not only did Marocco prepare the meals but he also delivered them as far as Foster.
“I have studded tires and a Subaru Forester so I was able to get around pretty good in the snow and ice,” he said. “I really wanted to help those people out who didn’t have electricity and food, just help some people out, you know?”
Due to the storm he was unable to get out to do his regular shopping for the week. “Unfortunately all my major shopping is in Springfield. I wasn’t about to dare to go out through Holley and out that direction,” he explained, “the roads were closed and so was Springfield pretty much.”
Marocco says he will be low on supplies this week but hopes he will get to Springfield soon to restock for better weather.
In the aftermath of everything Marocco only wished one thing could have been different. “I felt bad because I ran out of food and I couldn’t do more. “I really wish I could have done more,” said Marocco, “but come on down, the food’s hot now and ready to eat.”