As the sun shined down late Saturday morning, Chevron manager and Lewis County Drug Court graduate Leah Rader hosted a barbecue with her family, friends and coworkers to kick off their Fourth of July weekend at the gas station.
They grilled and handed out a holiday meal free of charge to anyone who wanted one.
Leah Rader and those with her started cooking and handing out free hot meals during the holidays last November for Thanksgiving. Having had a run-in with the law previously and spending some time living on the streets herself, Leah Rader knows just how helpful having just one hot meal can be, especially during a holiday.
Joined by her husband, Brad Rader, and daughter, Layla Welch, Leah Rader was also helped by coworker and current Lewis County Drug Court enrollee Kiya Kenney, coworker Christina Jimenez and her children, JR Jimenez and Nellie and Naomi Garcia, and friends Kristina Lopes and Eduardo Hernandez II.
Burgers and hot dogs were grilled up and a complete spread of condiments and toppings was available along with potato salad as a side and cookies for dessert. Waters and sodas were available, along with 50 tamales made by Christina Jimenez, who is also currently six months pregnant.
“We’ve handed out a ton of food already. It’s been crazy,” Leah Rader said.
Starting at 10 a.m., they began cooking and handing out meals. By 12:30 p.m., when The Chronicle visited, they had given out nearly 130 burgers, 50 hot dogs and all 50 tamales, almost running out of food.
“We’ve done about 180 plates so far,” Brad Rader said, later adding, “Oh I forgot about the tamales! The tamales went fast, so somewhere between 180 and 200 plates actually.”
Aside from giving meals to those in need, Leah Rader enjoys the fellowship with her friends and family.
“I just love doing this. I love spending time with my friends and family,” Leah Rader said. “And I love the excitement on peoples’ faces when they get a meal. It just brings everybody together.”
“That’s what it’s all about. We’re trying to help people in need. That’s where it started from, trying to help the homeless, but anybody who shows up can get a plate,” added Brad Rader.
Lewis County Drug Court was created in 2004 and is a voluntary program for addicts charged with a felony, according to Drug Court Program Manager Stephanie Miller.
The program targets offenders with a poor prognosis for success on their own, and aids them with structure and support using a three-phase recovery program. Drug Court lasts a minimum of 16 months with most participants graduating after 19 to 22 months.
To graduate, a Drug Court participant must have a full-time job and stable housing, complete recommended treatment, be clean for at least six months and in the program for at least 16 months, have a sober mentor and pay any court-ordered fines and restitution stemming from their case, according to Miller. Once someone graduates, their charges are dismissed.
Leah Rader graduated from Drug Court three years ago and has now been sober for five years. Her coworker, Kiya Kenney, has been enrolled in Drug Court since January. Leah Rader once again thanked her coworkers and family for help as well as Gather Church for its support with cooking equipment.
She continues to hope to inspire other businesses in town to help those in need during the holidays. The Chevron Leah Rader manages is located at 520 S. Tower Ave. in downtown Centralia, and Gather Church is located on 100 S. Rock St. in Centralia.
She plans on holding her next free holiday meal event sometime in September for Labor Day.
For more information about Gather Church, visit https://www.gatherchurch.com/.
For more information about Lewis County Drug Court, visit https://www.facebook.com/LCdrugcourt/.
