LOUISVILLE, CO – Mudrock’s Tap and Tavern in Louisville is not just a place to grab a bite to eat or watch a big rivalry game, but a place that holds the heart of the community close.
During Marshall Firethis restaurant became a place where people could meet or go to find urgent supplies.
“A lot of people didn’t have the clothes on their backs at that point and so we started a donation center here, and then as things progressed and a lot of people got involved, they realized they didn’t need all that stuff. immediately more,” said Mark Karpowich, owner Mudrock’s Tap and Tavern.
As time passed, Karpowich realized that people no longer needed these items, but instead processed the reality of what they had lost in the fire.
Maggy Wolanska
“We realized that some people lost some things that were completely irreplaceable, things like their veterans memorial flags that the military gave to the families of the servicemen and women that were lost,” Karpowich said.
To help these families find comfort and keep the memory of their loved one alive, the restaurant donated folded flags to those in the community who no longer had this meaningful memory.
“There really was a woman who lost everything here in Louisville — she was in her 90s and she lost her husband in Korea and her son in Vietnam,” Karpowich explained. “So to be able to present her with two folded flags even though they weren’t the same flag – it was so touching and impactful for all of us here. It’s something you never forget as long as you live.”
Maggy Wolanska
After the recent hurricanes in Florida, the restaurant continues this act of kindness, sending folded flags to the families of fallen veterans.
“We just went ahead and ordered as much as we could afford, and then we started fundraising to try to get some of the costs. And people really want to be a part of something like this,” Karpowich said.
Maggy Wolanska
The folded flags are packed and headed to Florida, along with other supplies donated by local organizations to support these hurricane victims.
“I just think some people might think it’s a snowflake, that they could help the American people when they’ve lost so much, but you never know who it’s going to help,” said Nancy Thompson, who helped organize the supplies. “You never know which person is waiting for clean water to take medicine, or children who need diapers or bleach because of the mold that will appear after all the water damage.”
Mudrock’s Tap & Tavern has a fundraising page to send more flags to help families affected by hurricanes Helena and Milton. Even when the states are far apart, the actions of Coloradans and businesses like this one are reminders of how far simple acts of kindness can go.
“It’s extremely helpful. People can really lose hope and you can remember just looking at a pile of rubble that was once your home — it doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world,” Karpowich said. “You can still rebuild and it’s just an offer of hope because I know it might seem hopeless to people, but it’s not.”
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