When Hurricane Helene struck, leaving devastation in its wake, our MRCO family came together to support the affected communities. We spoke with Tony, our Market Coach who played a pivotal role in the relief effort, to learn more about his experience and the impact we made as a team.
The idea to send a Taco Bell food truck to the impacted areas originated from one of our corporate partners. “We told him we’d give him all the support he needed.”
Logistical challenges were significant. The food truck had to be hauled on a transfer truck from St. Louis, MO as it couldn’t be driven directly to the location. “We had four of our team members come from South Georgia, and we headed up to Asheville, NC” Tony says. “On that day at Ashville, we served 2,000 people.”
Our team faced several challenges. Road closures and detours made the journey difficult. “We had to take all kinds of detours; the main roads were shut down,” Tony notes. Water was also a vital necessity for those impacted, “We brought truckloads of water from Georgia and Tennessee,” he says.
A Personal Mission
For Tony, the relief effort was deeply personal. “I lived there; I was raised there,” he shares. “I ran those particular stores for 14 years.” Seeing familiar faces among those in need was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. “It was tear-jerking,” he admits. “Some of these people had what they had left strapped on top of their cars. It was so sad.”
Tony served as the greeter when people arrived. “I tried to talk to every car, letting them know we’re here supporting them and offering free food and water,” he explains. The response from the community was overwhelming. “The gratitude and the tears we saw were amazing,” Tony says.
“If they said they had five people back at the house, we gave them five bags to take back to their family.” This small act had a significant impact. “We’re just giving them a simple taco and burrito, but it meant the world to them,” he reflects.
The relief effort left a lasting impression on Tony. “It’s really humbling” he shares. “These people had their whole lives just washed away in one night.”
“Businesses have a great obligation to help the community if they’re capable,” Tony Cunningham, Market Coach
Tony believes initiatives like this are crucial in building relationships with the communities we serve. “They keep us in business; This is the least we could do when they’re in need.”
