A veteran is doing his part to make sure truckers don't go hungry while many restaurants are closed.
Richard McFadden is an 81-year-old veteran Navy pilot who served in the Vietnam War.
My coworker, Manuel Rodriguez, snapped these pictures of a Vietnam veteran who is giving free meals away to truck drivers. Thank you for your service and thank you for your #COVIDkindness. #Utah pic.twitter.com/riwnfCnrFS
— Allison Croghan (@AllisonCroghan) April 10, 2020
He normally collects and sells scrap metal to benefit hospice facilities. But he is putting that on hold to give truckers who stop at the Grassy Mountain rest area before exit 99 off I-80 by Tooele free lunch, treats for their dogs and toilet paper.
“I'm glad to be able to help these guys and women," McFadden said. "And it's like I said, they gotta eat, and nobody will let them go to walk-ups. So I come out here three days a week, my wife makes the lunches and I bring them out."
As far as donations go, McFadden said the truckers often offer him money for his services. “I don't want them, but they insist. So I just go buy more meat,” McFadden said.
Richard says he will do this as long as he needs to. He says he's honoring social distancing and he just wants to make sure truckers are okay on the road.