Volunteers work with local restaurant to hand out 100 meals in Citrus Heights

By Mike Hazlip—
Over the Christmas holiday weekend, the Citrus Heights location of Texas Roadhouse partnered with local volunteers in preparing and distributing 100 meals for people experiencing homelessness in the area.

The event was organized by Paul Reyes and is in its fourth year, he said. The goal was to distribute 100 meals, and Reyes said Texas Roadhouse provided the meals at no cost. Volunteers gathered at the restaurant on the morning of Dec. 23 to receive the food before going out in the community in teams.

Reyes said he footed the bill for the food the first year with just a handful of volunteers and found the need was greater than he anticipated. Now, Reyes has the support of Texas Roadhouse and about 40 volunteers.

“That’s been our goal since year two, to feed 100 homeless,” Reyes said. “We’ve included backpacks with toiletries, towels, wash cloths.”

Stones Gambling Hall provided bottled water, Reyes said, and he is looking to work with the American Legion Post 637 to handle donations next year.

Sara Ashby was at Texas Roadhouse with her daughter to celebrate her 65th birthday and told The Sentinel she was homeless for about two years in the late 1970s and was glad to see the community come together to help.

“I lived on the street 40 years ago and no one helped me out like this, but it’s nice that they’re doing it for homeless people, very nice,” Ashby said.

An employee with Texas Roadhouse, Taylor Salatich, said the restaurant prepares “at least” 100 meals depending on what the anticipated need might be. The meals were pulled pork sandwiches with a side of corn, she said. Employees started preparing the meals before the restaurant opened at no cost.

“We’re donating the meals, no cost at all,” Salatich said. “Just doing it out of the love of our hearts.”