RYE, Colo. (KOAA) — Rye is open again, and the community is rallying around residents returning home after a mandatory evacuation order was lifted five days ago.
Rye was the last major community to have its mandatory evacuation order lifted. For many community members, settling back into daily life has not been easy, but the town is working to help ease that transition.
"It was so good to get back home and to see my home still standing and everything good," said one community member.
"It was hard not to see familiar faces and be around the people that I know and love," said another.
Roads into town have reopened, and since community members returned on Thursday, a volunteer-led lunch has become a daily routine for anyone who shows up hungry.
"I just get hamburgers and hot dogs. A little bit of this and a little bit of that," said one attendee.
Chris Dorris and Tyson Rodriguez travel with food to areas where help is needed. The pair say they are grateful for the local volunteers who have shown up to help.
"I think we're doing 300 to 325 meals a day, just day in and day out, seven days a week," said Dorris.
Tuesday's menu included brisket, pulled pork, burgers, bratwursts, beans and coleslaw.
"All of these volunteers are people from this community. We've had more than these ladies here; obviously... they're not here every day. They need breaks, and people just pour in with support and help," said Rodriguez.
Michael Peck and Natalie Roles-Lepley both run businesses in town. They say the community response has been meaningful.
"It's been really therapeutic to see things and have a normalcy and familiarity with people and what's going on and hearing their experiences and sharing your experiences," said Roles-Lepley.
"Just trying to give to people who need it right now. Not everybody's lost everything, but at the same time, they've been away from their lives," says Peck.
"It has made the community just that much closer," added Roles-Lepley.
Some returns have been rockier than others, but residents and volunteers say the outpouring of support is making each day a little smoother.
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