WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Taco night at Taco Hut in Hutchinson had a line out the door, and not one person had to pull out their wallet.
Hutchinson residents said they are feeling the pressure of the rising cost of living. They said that when you are trying to stretch a budget to cover groceries, gas, and bills, every little bit helps. That’s the idea behind this new effort at Taco Hut to give Hutchinson families a meal.
Tyler Davis noticed something different this summer. People were coming into his restaurants, strapped for cash, so he decided to do something about it.
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Davis said tacos are a simple choice because they are quick to make in large quantities. He prepared for 1,500 people Monday night.
“There are no forms to fill out. There’s no identity,” he said. “You’re just coming in, and you’re grabbing some tacos, and I think a lot of people that are coming in and just kind of want to support the whole thing.”
One of those supporters is Lindey Sanders.
“For me, it helps a lot because I ain’t got to worry about it,” she said.
For Sanders and her son, paying the bills, groceries, and other expenses adds up and can feel like there is always something else coming.
“I feel like it’s not one thing; it’s another,” she said. “And we have the state fair coming up.”
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Davis says this is not just about feeding people, but showing them their community is behind them. People’s Bank and other community members are helping cover the cost, while volunteers pitched in to get the tacos out the door.
“Community thrives when people step up and help when things are getting tough,” Davis said.
Davis said shortly before 10 p.m. that not only did they run out of tacos, but they gave away 100 more than originally planned.
Free-taco night is happening the last Monday of each month through the end of the year. No identification or proof of income is required, and if donations are enough, they hope to add even more nights in the future.
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Dining and Cooking