COLORADO SPRINGS — A local delivery driver is driving for change in the Colorado Springs community. She recently received a $10,000 grant from the food delivery service, Grubhub.
Mary Duefrene-Chacon has been driving for the company for just over a year. She's also a part of a local organization called "Finding Our Voices," which she says is where she's donating the money to.
The organization provides healing through art for sexual assault survivors. They've impacted nearly 5,000 lives since forming in 2008, including Duefrene-Chacon, who is a victim herself.
"They saved my life. There's no amount of gratitude that you can give somebody that saved your life," said Duefrene-Chacon. "I feel like I have a purpose now, to help people, and help people heal because I know they can. I'm proof."
Duefrene-Chacon was one of the thousands of applicants nationwide who submitted a video about themselves and the difference they want to make in the community as a GrubHub driver. She was one of 20 drivers who got chosen to receive the grant. She got the exciting news two days ago.
"I was so excited, because I knew right away who i was going to give that to," said Duefrene-Chacon. "This was at least something that I could give back to them, for what they gave to me. They gave me my family back, my happiness back, they gave me knowledge, and I'm a totally different person today in my 60's."
Fund-raising for the organization was limited during the pandemic, which made it challenging to offer resources and therapy. With the money, the organization wants to bring back an art workshop in the spring and a group retreat in the summer, which around 30-35 people attend.
The grant is through the Grubhub Driver Grant Program. A spokesperson for the company says this is the first time the food delivery service has offered the grant. Applications will open again in Spring 2021.
For more information on Finding Our Voices, click here.
