Sonic Drive-In customer gives free truck to his server

A young mother working two jobs was recently given the gift of a lifetime while working as a server at a local fast food joint in Salida: A 1998 Chevy Blazer.

It might not be a Mercedes Benz, but for Melissa Yengich and her family, it might as well be.

“It helps us out tremendously,” said Yengich. “It gets us where we need to go. I can get to both my jobs, and I no longer need to worry how I’ll be able to get around town.”

Yengich was working at her first of two jobs as a Car Hop at the Sonic Drive-In in Salida along Highway 50. Her second job is at Quincy’s Steakhouse as a waitress.

Last week, one of Yengich’s regulars at the Sonic came in for lunch like he does any other day.

“He orders the same thing every day,” said Yengich.

But this time, instead of her handing food to the customer, he handed her a title to his truck.

“Honestly I was just blank,” recalls Yengich. “I was in shock, I was happy, I didn’t know what to say, I thought it was a joke! I didn’t know what to say except thank you and give him a hug.”

Life hasn’t been filled with handouts for Melissa. The 27-year old originally from Pueblo works two jobs to provide for her family, and life can be a struggle at times.

However, things seem to be heading in the right direction.

“I always try to give back to the community and to people,” said Yengich. “I think it’s coming back to me ten fold because it seems like I’ve had a lot of good things happen to me lately.”

According to the man who gave Melissa the vehicle, the engine is in good shape and drives well. He said he would’ve received a few hundred dollars if he sold it. However, he believes Melissa would get more use out of it, and she was more than deserving of it.

The individual wished to remain anonymous but did tell KRDO something his father told him when he was young: If you aren’t willing to do good things for other people then what are you doing on this planet?