TA Troutdale Team Member Goes Above and Beyond for Stranded Guests

Last weekend, the Portland, Oregon area had a terrible winter storm - several inches of ice layered the snow, which layered even more ice below it. The area was at a standstill. The busses weren’t running, the freeway was closed, and the team members at TA Troutdale  had issues driving to work. 

The site had to close its Popeyes and Subway. In addition, all other food options along the exit were closed. (This is the last exit before they closed Interstate 84 through the Columbia River Gorge. With the freeway closed, there were a lot of travelers stranded on the road.)

Aaron Pfeiffer, customer service representative and sole cook for the Good 2 Go program, knew his teammates would not be able to make it to work. He also knew that drivers may be stranded, and the site would most likely be busy. Aaron grabbed tools and snow melt, threw his truck into four-wheel drive and made the 14-mile commute to work. 

Aaron was greeted at the site by spun out and stuck cars. Without missing a beat, he grabbed his tools and snow melt and helped the motorists out before even beginning his shift. And when he started work, he dove right in preparing pizza, spaghetti and meatballs, salads, fruit cups and more for the drivers. He made sure the Good 2 Go cases were continuously full and that the site would not run out before he’d be back. 

Before Aaron left for home, he again helped stranded motorists. 

“Aaron is truly a hero and made many wonderful memories for our highway travelers in a most difficult time,” said Karen Olson, food specialist, Northwest Region. “He is a perfect example of living our values and delivering on our Mission of returning every traveler to the road better than they came.”