Challenging times bring new faces to free meals

Ideally, Hollan would like to continue driving. He received a commercial driver's license just eight months ago in Indiana. But to work for most Utah trucking companies, he says, he needs a CDL issued in Utah, which will cost $200 — money he doesn't have. Hollan also needs to have a permanent address, and companies have told him the Road Home doesn't count.

"I'm going to take anything," Hollan said. "I'll sweep sidewalks. I'll take a cut in pay."

At the Salvation Army, the number of people who received meals this year is up about 150 from last year, said Rosemary Grim, who coordinates the event for the Salvation Army.

About 500 volunteers picked up meals at the Salvation Army and took them to more than 600 shut-ins — people who are disabled, do not have family or cannot drive to a Thanksgiving dinner. Most people who received meals are clients of Meals on Wheels, which is not open on Thanksgiving.

When Grim, who has been volunteering on Thanksgiving for 25 years, looked over the list of people who received meals, she noticed an unusual number of people who live in homes, as opposed to apartment or senior living complexes. Last year, there were 14 houses that had dogs. This year there were 39 houses with dogs.

Grim doesn't know the personal situations of most of people but believes the slowdown in the economy and the downturn in the real estate market had an impact. "Maybe they're still there because they haven't yet sold their home," she said.

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Contributing: Associated Press

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E-mail: lhancock@desnews.com

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