SALT LAKE CITY — After truck driver, Landon Cheatham, drove to California and saw its’ conditions — he decided he wanted to help.
Cheatham, who usually drives to California at least 2-3 times a week for work, created a post in a Facebook group, “Connect Utah,” and asked for donations to drive back to Los Angeles.
And he received an outpour of comments and messages.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Cheatham, an operations manager at Alex D. Delivery. “I never thought that just from a simple Facebook post, it would turn into this, but it has so we’re going to keep going. We’ll keep building and helping as many people as we can.”
Within a day, over 30 business owners across Utah stepped in and made their business one of many drop-off locations for toiletries, clothes, food and more.
Elif Ekin, owner of Kahve Cafe, is one of those businesses. She said that since Saturday, people have continuously dropped off items.
“At the end of the day, it’s about building community, and it doesn’t matter if you’re in Salt Lake City or you’re in California,” Ekin said. “People are people, you know? When people are hurting, you help people.”
Andrea Bennett, owner of Annie’s Cafe in Bountiful, said a customer called Saturday night and decided to donate a million N24 masks.
“He says, ‘Annie, I have a semi-truck full of N24 masks for you,’” she explained. “Obviously, we’re very emotional about that.”
And she truly knows the meaning of community. She says her daughter received a liver transplant from a person in California that saved her life.
“When I was there with her, the community helped us a lot,” she said. “I think I need to give back at some point. I know what it’s like to be in need.”
By Sunday afternoon, the group had already filled up two 53-foot semi-trailers and three sprinter vans. But it doesn’t end there.
“We’re not going to stop until the donations stop coming in or California tells us to stop coming in,” Cheatham said.
Cheatham drove all donated items to a food bank in Los Angeles on Sunday. Aside from items including toiletries, food, and clothes, they’re also asking for large cardboard boxes.
If you’re interested in donating items to help support people dealing with the wildfires in California, drop off items at these locations:
Coordinated Insurance Services
5788 S 900 E
Murray, UT 84121
Jade Bloom Essential Oils & Natural Products
357 W Life Science Way Suite 600
Draper, UT 84020
Ground To Earth
11248 S Kestrel Rise Rd #102
South Jordan, UT 84009
Isha Recovery and Sculpt
1770 Fort Union Blvd STE 101
Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121
The Law Offices of Roberto Hernandez
491 West 5300 South
Murray, UT 84123
Kahve Cafe
57 S 600 E
Salt Lake City, UT 84102
Drop offs: Tuesday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Millcreek Nutrition
1050 E 3300 S #102
Millcreek, UT 84106
Pantry Products
888 S 200 E
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Drop offs: Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Chez Nibs
212 E 500 S Suite A,
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Annie’s Cafe
74 W 500 S
Bountiful, UT 84010
To drop off during after hours please contact Andrea Bennett to coordinate: 775-657-1658
Bountiful Nutrition
273 W 500 S Ste 22
Bountiful, UT 84010
Blue Synergy- Private Residence
582 Flint Street,
Layton, UT 84041
Morgan Nutrition
101 Commercial St. Suite A
Morgan UT, 84050
Younique Products
3400 W Mayflower Ave Suite 350
Lehi, UT 84043
Lifting Hands International
920 East State Rd, suite H
American Fork, UT 84003
Mountain Land Physical Therapy
94 Highland Drive
Santaquin, UT 84655
Shoreline Middle School
1201 W 890 S
Provo, UT 84601
Trucks Cars and Credit
353 E Cimmarron Way,
Erda, UT 84074
Aspen Grove Rustics
1490 South Highway 40
Heber City, UT 84032
Vintiquers
806 S Washington Blvd
Ogden, UT 84404
Drop Offs: Thursday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cache Coffee And More
970 US-89 Ste 130
Logan, UT 84321
