Resident proposes stimulus donation By Wendy Rigby Trail-Gazette
The Estes Chamber of Commerce is part of a committee helping to decide how to use the $250,000 Community Relief ike many people, contracFund approved by the Town of tor Frank Theis of Estes Estes Park Board of Trustees Park is expecting a stimon March 24. ulus check in the mail as the “The Chamber is actively federal government seeks to participating in a committee lessen the economic impact of evaluating the business needs the COVID-19 pandemic. and deciding on distribution of Unlike many people, Theis these funds,” Chamber Execusaid he doesn’t really need the tive Director Donna Carlson money to survive the current said. “There are three possible crisis. categories of need we can use Theis is proposing that peothis money to help address: ple like him in Estes Park pool mortgage costs, bills (includtheir direct cash payments and ing utilities) and taxes and create a fund to help people in insurance.” the town who really need it. The Estes Park Nonprofit “Most of the suddenly-unemResource Center has estabployed hourly workers are lished the EP Nonprofit Relief going to be needing help Fund for disbursement within beyond the initial payment,” Estes Park only. Theis said. “This fund will support any For the Estes Park workers operational need that contribwho are employed as waiters, utes to the execution of an bartenders, housekeepers, essential service and/or basic cooks, hospitality staff or retail need in our community,” the employees, this crisis comes at EPNRC said in its announcea terrible time. ment. “As usual, many have surTheis said he believes there Frank Theis / Courtesy photo vived the off-season on a subare many wealthy retirees in Frank Theis has lived in Estes Park for two decades. sistence income, and they the Estes Park community were just looking forward to who could choose to donate to seeing their incomes start to “Many (hourly workers) live off of savings in a separate fund. rise,” Theis commented in an could put the money the off-season, and run short this time of year. in “They email proposing his idea. a grandchild’s college fund “Many live off of savings in the A $1,200 check will only cover a month’s rent or pay one month’s mortgage, off-season, and run short this or they could contribute their or food, not both. If this shutdown lasts time of year. A $1,200 check stimulus checks to a fund that several months, as expected, many hourly will only cover a month’s rent will secure the sound economor food, not both. If this shutic future of the town,” Theis workers may be forced to leave Estes.” down lasts several months, as commented. Frank Theis, Estes Park resident expected, many hourly workThe busiest tourist months ers may be forced to leave in Estes Park are July, August Estes.” and September. If Rocky explained. “We could make but he said he believes a fund Theis said this will impact Mountain National Park that is not administered by the payments to those individuals everyone who lives in the reopens soon and the lodging government could be useful in over the next several months, town. industry is able to book as needed.” the months to come. “These are essential memEmployers will need employ- guests, “I suspect Estes will He proposes receiving conbers of our community,” Theis tributions from people who are ees as businesses reopen. not be devastated,” Theis said. stressed. “If we want our own “People who normally go to Theis said everyone in Estes will to donate their governlocal economic stabilization, Disneyland or travel overseas ment payments and building a Park will need the services of we need to figure out how to might decide to come see the workers who provide assisstructure to review requests keep them. When they run out for additional financial support tance in areas from maintenational park instead.” of money, they will leave. Theis invites comments and nance to home health care. from the unemployed. When they leave, it will be Other related efforts to pro- thoughts on his stimulus “Then we should identify hard to get them to come vide short-term financial relief check fund proposal. He can individual needs for basics, back.” to businesses are already such as food and rent, until be reached at underway. their jobs come back,” Theis Theis’ plan is in its infancy, ftheis3@gmail.com.
L
14 • COVID-19 WELLNESS WARRIORS
