2020 Annual Report

A Special Gift Christiansburg Subway employee Kassie Wright knew she wanted to use her stimulus check for good when the funds were issued to citizens for the first time in April 2020. The single mother of three used her stimulus check to purchase 153 boxed lunches from the Subway restaurant where she works for seniors living in the Trolinger and New River House apartments at Warm Hearth Village. Kassie said her employers, local Subway franchise owners Melanie Morris and Scott Hillyard, had taken great care to look after their employees despite the negative impact COVID-19 was having on their business. By putting the money back into the Subway restaurant and donating meals to seniors who she suspected could use a pick-me-up after the first few tough months of the pandemic, she made the most out of the stimulus funds. When Morris and Hillyard learned what she was planning, they agreed to let her pur- chase the meals at cost to leave a little money for Kassie to spend on herself and her family. This special expression of caring and generosity was a big treat for residents, who had been self-isolating for the greater part of the previous two months. Kassie’s gift was one of the bright spots that truly helped us get through a difficult year.