SAN SABA, Texas — Imagine going through the COVID-19 outbreak without a grocery store. That's what nearly 3,100 citizens in San Saba went through this past week.
On Friday morning around 12:30pm, a fire burnt down the only grocery store in town. Lowe's South Texas Regional Manager, Alan Buxkemper, says he got the call that the fire department was sent to the store and by 1pm it was in full flame.
Nothing was left.
Mayor Ken Jordan said the community was scared especially because there was already so much uncertainty with the virus.
"It concerned a lot of folks, this is reality, they thought, how are we going to get through the next few weeks or however long it may be?"
The city officials, Lowe's employees and Mayor met Friday afternoon to make a plan. Moving quickly, the team signed a lease Saturday on a new place and put the works into bringing a supermarket back to San Saba.
"We started hauling equipment down here, 25 to 30 truck loads," Buxkemper added.
Sysco and surrounding companies helped supply items, equipment and food for the store.
"In less than five days, we have a temporary store up and running in San Saba," Jordan added.
The community in San Saba is even closer now.
"The way we reacted made our community much stronger, I'm really proud of that.," Mayor Ken Jordan added.
Now, this community can find peace being able to find the resources they need.
"To see everyone come together like they did, it's just amazing the unity that we had. Everyone was willing to help as many hours we had to to get the job done," Jordan said.