Mother-daughter duo lead effort to feed truck drivers

As truck drivers continue transporting essential goods amid the COVID -19 outbreak, Vikki Knight has been helping to provide a home-cooked meal when they pass through Windsor.

“When my partner was alive he used to drive transports,” Knight said. “I have a lot of friends who are truckers in the trucking community and they are driving a lot of long hours. It’s becoming very frustrating to my driver friends who are not able to obtain food but are being required to work long hours to get these supplies to our stores.”

Along with volunteers, Knight set up a food stop for truckers Friday at the Petro Pass truck stop on Highway 46 to give out free homemade chili, stew and banana bread to hungry drivers passing through the city.

As restaurants have closed their doors to mitigate the spread of the virus, Knight said she has been worried about where these drivers will get their next meal.

“A lot of these drivers that cross the border, they can’t bring food across because certain things are restricted, so it’s not even like they can pack regular lunches and bring them either,” she said.

Knight said the inspiration came after hearing concerns from friends about the restaurant closures and where they’ll find food on the road.

She said some have told her they’ve tried walking up to drivethrus only to be told they had to be in a vehicle to receive service.

“They’re getting stressed,” Knight said. “They’re not used to going days without being able to eat properly or access a homemade meal.”

With the help of donations from the community, Knight, her daughter Jessica Knight-moodrey, and volunteers have been working hard in the kitchen making sandwiches, salads, pasta, soups and chili out of Generation Diner on Ottawa Street, owned by Knightmoodrey, to hand out to drivers when they can.

Knight and the others share videos on the Generation Diner Facebook page, along with where they’re headed next and how to help.

“They ’re happy and they give me a thumbs up and tell me they appreciate what I’m doing,” she said of the drivers she has met running food to their windows. “Somebody’s looking out for them.”

DAN JANISSE Jessica Knight-moodrey, left, and her mother Vikki Knight were at the Petro Pass Truck Stop on County Road 46 in Oldcastle on Friday, where they were offering free meals to truckers. Along with volunteers, the pair is preparing meals at a local diner to hand out.