Commercial truckers from around the U.S. left ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s Triple T Truck Stop with smiling faces Thursday after receiving free lunch from community members who banded together to support them.
Truckers were greeted with signs saying “We Love Truckers†and “You keep us moving†as volunteers cheered them on for their work.
The idea for the event was put together two weeks ago by Michael Quinn, Kent Bauman and another neighbor who all attend Alive Church in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ and decided they could lend a hand during the coronavirus pandemic.
What was initially an idea to provide around 50 sandwiches to truckers turned into an operation where $3,000 has been raised and hundreds of truckers have the opportunity for a free lunch.
“I said I’d like to help these medical workers, who are nothing short of heroes with what they’re doing, but there’s a lot of people helping them, and we can help them, too,†Quinn said, “but what about our nation’s truckers that are keeping the supply chain going and keeping food in our supermarkets and medical supplies in our hospitals?â€
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Bauman, who owns an automobile transport trucking firm, knew firsthand what truckers can go through while on the job.
“There’s still parts of the economy that are still trying to run, and we’re really, very dependent on trucks, everything people buy, everything we use moves on a truck, maybe even two or three trucks to get from the factory or the farm in to retail,†Bauman said. “We just appreciate the sacrifices these guys have been making.â€
They reached out to Kurt Dandoy, president of operations at Triple T Truck Stop, to discuss how they could support the mission to support truckers.
For Triple T, the proposition to supply bagged lunches filled with a sandwich, chips, a Rice Krispies Treat and a soda was an easy decision.
“These drivers have a different world. Every night you and I go home to our families and we worry about this pandemic that’s going around today, but they don’t get the opportunity to do that,†Dandoy said. “I talk to drivers all the time and they told us about their concerns about home, but they’ve got to be on the road.â€
The worries for truckers extended to Gov. Doug Ducey, who issued an executive order to permit food trucks at eight ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Department of Transportation interstate rest areas.
Dandoy, a 38-year veteran in the industry, said without the essential work by truckers, it could become a “bigger problem than we can ever imagine.â€
“We’re proud to be allowed to be part of this great plan they put together, and we’re happy they chose Triple T to host their event,†said Dandoy.
“The credit goes to the church and the organization out there for showing their appreciation to the drivers. It’s something that should be done long-term anyways.â€
The ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Department of Public Safety and ADOT also lent their help by changing signs to signal free lunch was at the particular exit.
The organization is prepped to offer more sandwiches Friday afternoon with plans to be out at Triple T again next week and as long as funds continue.
During Thursday’s event, truckers, like John Jones, left feeling appreciated.
“I think it’s pretty cool. It makes us feel important, it makes us feel appreciated, and I hope people are recognizing now how important we are and essential we are to their daily life and habits,†said Jones, who travels around ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ hauling a variety of supplies.
“I’ve been around ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ and I haven’t seen anybody doing it. It is a refreshing thing to see smiling faces and feeling the support, the love and the care from regular, common folks.â€
Photos for April 11: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ gets by during Coronavirus Pandemic
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in photos, coronavirus pandemic

Susan Hillman chats with her mother Betty Hillman via telephone, April 9, 2020, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz. Eighty-five year old Betty Hillman is in long term skilled care and Susan is unable to visit due to COVID-19 restrictions on nursing home facilities.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in photos, coronavirus pandemic

Susan Hillman chats with her mother Betty Hillman near a photo of Betty and her husband, Susan's dad, Bill, circa 2105, April 9, 2020, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz. Eighty-five year old Betty Hillman is in long term skilled care and Susan is unable to visit due to COVID-19 restrictions on nursing home facilities.
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Ben Forbes, left, owner of Forbes Meat Company, helps Jeronimo "Mo" Madril, right owner and executive chef of Geronimo's Revenge, wrap up tortilla's for to-go carnitas for Forbes Meat Company and Geronimo's Revenge's "Carnitas for the community" at Thunder Canyon Brewery, 220 E. Broadway Blvd., in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on April 6, 2020. Forbes Meat Company and Geronimo's Revenge partnered to help the restaurant community by offering free carnitas to those affected by the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). They will be making to go carnitas every Monday in April starting at 2pm until all the to go packs, roughly 60, are all gone. Forbes wanted to find a way to help out the restaurant community. "They are struggling and my business is exploding," said Forbes.
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David Clark, left, out of work bartender, and Jeronimo "Mo" Madril, owner and executive chef of Geronimo's Revenge, practice social distancing while waiting to give out carnitas for Forbes Meat Company and Geronimo's Revenge's "Carnitas for the community" at Thunder Canyon Brewery, 220 E. Broadway Blvd., in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on April 6, 2020. Forbes Meat Company and Geronimo's Revenge partnered to help the restaurant community by offering free carnitas to those affected by the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). They will be making to go carnitas every Monday in April starting at 2pm until all the to go packs, roughly 60, are all gone.
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Steve Tracy, Thunder Canyon Brewery co-owner and brewer, fills up 16oz bottles of locally made hand sanitizer at Thunder Canyon Brewery, 220 E. Broadway Blvd., in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on April 6, 2020. Thunder Canyon Brewery, along with a few other local distilleries, are making United States Food and Drug Administration approved hand sanitizer for hospitals, first responders and the public in response to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). "Whatever I have, I am turning into hand sanitizer," said Tracy. "We are going to keep making it as much as we can."
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Steve Tracy, Thunder Canyon Brewery co-owner and brewer, fills up 16oz bottles of locally made hand sanitizer at Thunder Canyon Brewery, 220 E. Broadway Blvd., in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on April 6, 2020. Thunder Canyon Brewery, along with a few other local distilleries, are making United States Food and Drug Administration approved hand sanitizer for hospitals, first responders and the public in response to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). "Whatever I have, I am turning into hand sanitizer," said Tracy. "We are going to keep making it as much as we can."
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David Sbarra, a psychology professor at the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, points his webcam at his children Margot, 9, and Mateo, 12, as he begins his introduction of his office hours for a class he now conducts over Zoom in his living room while teaching from home, on April 7, 2020.
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Ben Elias, manager at Westbound, center, helps Dustin Schaber with his pickup order on April 8, 2020. Due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) only two customers are allowed in the shop, located at the MSA Annex, at the same time and all orders are to-go.
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Laura Tanzer, a local fashion designer, posted on Facebook that she will make masks for $5.00 each on April 5. Tanzer thought she would receive a couple of dozen orders, but, within 24 hours she heard from over 200 people. Tanzer is now working out of her shop in downtown ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ making masks that also has a filter sowed into them. Tanzer is wearing one of her masks as she sows on April 8, 2020.
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Oro Valley Hospital chief administration officer Erinn Oller talks with Fang, a local organizer with the Chinese-American COVID-19 Relief AZ group, which donated 6,000 masks, on April 9, 2020. Additional mask donations are planned as soon as shipments arrive.
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Healthcare workers line up for their 2 free Sonoran hot dogs and a drink from BK Carne Asada & Hot Dogs in the parking lot of St. Mary's Hospital on April 10, 2020. The owner, Benny Galaz, is giving free food to healthcare workers at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ area hospitals for the next several weeks as a way to say thank you for their hard work during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.
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Benny Galaz, owner of BK Carne Asada & Hot Dogs, cooks up Sonoran hot dogs in the parking lot of St. Mary's Hospital on April 10, 2020. Galaz is giving free food to healthcare workers at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ area hospitals for the next several weeks as a way to say thank you for their hard work during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in photos, coronavirus pandemic

Healthcare workers line up for their 2 free Sonoran hot dogs and a drink from BK Carne Asada & Hot Dogs in the parking lot of St. Mary's Hospital on April 10, 2020. The owner, Benny Galaz, is giving free food to healthcare workers at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ area hospitals for the next several weeks as a way to say thank you for their hard work during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.
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A man uses the taped off exercise station in Reid Park as an anchor for his band workout, April 8, 2020, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz.
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Alicia Roseanna, 9, fourth grader at Esperanza Elementary School, grabs a sheet of paper while listening to her teacher, Rachel Watson, and her classmates inside her home in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz. during Watson's online class on April 7, 2020. Due to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) closing down schools and universities, teachers and students have been forced to schedule and participate in classes online for the remainder of the school year.
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COVID-19 survivor, Glen Reed, poses for a photo looking out from the room he's using for isolation from his family in his home, April 10, 2020, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz. Reed spent nearly a month in the hospital including weeks in ICU on a ventilator.
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ER and EMS workers run through a drill practicing how to process an incoming patient experiencing a respiratory emergency at the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Medical Center's Emergency Room, on April 10, 2020.
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ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Fire Paramedic personnel prepare to run a drill at the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Medical Center's Emergency Room, on April 10, 2020.
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The CDC recommends Americans wear a facial covering when out in public, part of an effort to reduce the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. Above, shopping for spring blooms at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s Green Things Nursery.
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Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) signs taped onto dorms at the Babcock Dorms. The rooms located at 1717 E Speedway Boulevard may be used to house hospital workers from Banner - University Medical Center if they need to be quarantined due to COVID-19.
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Alex Swain, a member of Beloved in the Desert - ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s chapter of the Episcopal Service Corps, packs the trunk of his housemate's SUV in the parking lot of Fry's on 2480 N Swan Road after grocery shopping for an elderly man, on April 3, 2020. Swain and his housemates have volunteered to shop for elderly and at risk populations as people quarantine and stay at home during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
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Julisa Montano, a bus driver with Sunnyside Unified School District, gathers up the last few meals to hand out to students outside of Gallego Primary School, on April 7, 2020. The school district is distributing meals and has wifi available for students to use for school.
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A table is taped off at Fred Enke Golf Course, 8251 E. Irvington Rd., in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on April 5, 2020 due to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). With a rise in the amount of people participating in golf, due to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ City Golf is taking extra measures to keep people safe such as sanitizing golf carts after each use and social distancing.
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Rich DelVecchio, a Fred Enke Golf Course employee, sanitizes a golf cart. Course revenues at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s city-owned golf properties are up nearly 28% from the same period last year.
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Golfers practice social distancing while on the driving range at Fred Enke Golf Course, 8251 E. Irvington Rd., in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on April 5, 2020. With a rise in the amount of people participating in golf, due to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ City Golf is taking extra measures to keep people safe such as sanitizing golf carts after each use and social distancing.
Contact Star reporter Shaq Davis at 573-4218 or sdavis@tucson.com
On Twitter: @ShaqDavis1.