'It's for a great cause': Utah truck driver gathering donations to transport to California fire victims

SALT LAKE CITY — When Landon Cheatham saw the fires devastating Los Angeles, he knew he wanted to lend a hand. "I made a Facebook post, said, 'Hey, can anybody help? Anybody have some stuff they can donate?' And then it started getting shared and soon my phone was blowing up," he said. Cheatham, an operations manager at Alex D Delivery, takes semis to California two to three times a week, so he decided to fill up a truckload of donations. "I haven't slept since Wednesday," he said. "I've just been texting people and calling people, trying to get this all figured out." Cheatham said he was born in California and wanted to do his part to help those who have been displaced. "It's for a great cause. If we can help those people, we love to do it," he said. Cheatham's giving efforts have caused a chain reaction with other Utahns wanting to help. Justin Sinclair, a local freight agent, saw Cheatham's post on Facebook. "Immediately messaged him and then it just snowballed overnight," Sinclair said. "It's heartbreaking because you see all the stories and the tragedies and things like that, and if we can provide just a little bit of light in their day, that's all I want." They hope to fill the truck to the brim with donations. "Toys, clothes, diapers, any kind of relief efforts. Whatever they feel like donating, we would like to put it on this truck," Sinclair said. The truck will be loaded up this weekend, and Cheatham will make the 11-hour drive to LA to take the donations directly to local charities there. Cheatham said this shows how Utahns pull together when a need arises. "Everybody here has a good heart. Everybody wants to make a difference. Everybody wants to help," he said.

How to help

You can bring donations to Bailey's Logistics at 5282 W 1525 S, Salt Lake City, on Sunday, Jan. 12, between 8 am and 4 pm, or however long it takes to fill the truck. They are also looking for volunteers to help load the truck. Another truck will be loading on Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at Mackenzie Exhibits in Ogden. They are asking for donations of water or dry food goods. Additional drop-off locations will be available so they can continue to take truckloads of supplies to California.

Donation drop-off locations:

Coordinated Insurance Services

5788 S 900 E, Murray, UT 84121 Hours: M-F 9-5 a.m.

Annie’s Cafe in Bountiful

74 W 500 S Bountiful, UT 84010 Hours: 7:30 a.m. -4 p.m. After hours, please contact Andrea Bennett to coordinate 775-657-1658

Isha Recovery and Sculpt

1770 Fort Union Blvd STE 101 Cottonwood Heights, Utah 84121 Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Ground To Earth

11248 S Kestrel Rise Rd #102, South Jordan, UT 84009

The Law Offices of Roberto Hernandez

491 West 5300 South Murray, UT 84123 Hours: M-F 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Trucks Cars and Credit

353 E Cimmarron Way, Erda, UT 84074 (Tooele) Hours: 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Kahve Cafe

57 S 600 E Salt Lake City, UT 84102 Days: Tues-Sat

Leta Greene

11573 S Kestrel Rise Road South Jordan, Ut 84009 Hours: 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Blue Synergy

582 Flint Street, Layton, UT 84041 Across from the IHC hospital. Hours: 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Big Daddy’s Pizza

1612 Ute Blvd #111

Kimball Plaza

Park City, UT Hours: M-Sun 11-5

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