Picture by Mike Lamb
Patzer’s {Hardware} Hank house owners Lyle Patzer, left, and Mark Patzer, current a $1,000 examine to Marshall Meals Shelf coordinator Lori Lerohl.

MARSHALL — On March 16, Gov. Tim Walz ordered the non permanent closure of eating places and bars due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Different stores, deemed non-essential, had been finally ordered to shut as effectively.

“Because the circumstances of COVID-19 in Minnesota proceed to climb, we should take decisive motion to curb the unfold of this pandemic and defend the well being and security of Minnesotans,” Walz mentioned when saying his order. “This can be a difficult time for enterprise house owners, staff, kids and households alike. We should come collectively as One Minnesota to look after our neighbors and gradual the unfold of COVID-19.”

Patzer’s {Hardware} Hank proprietor Lyle Patzer is aware of what it means to look after his neighbors. His enterprise was deemed important and was allowed to remain open. So he determined to present again to his neighbors.

“I virtually felt responsible that we’re open. He’s not, he’s not, he’s not. I acquired income coming in. Perhaps initially it wasn’t a lot, but it surely was one thing,” Patzer mentioned.

“I actually needed to present a few of this again.”

Two weeks in the past, Patzer offered a $1,000 examine to Marshall Meals Shelf coordinator Lori Lerohl as a part of a Fb fundraising match. Patzer mentioned the Meals Shelf obtained $640 from the general public and “then we kicked in a thousand.”

“It’s type of in appreciation and having the ability to hold our doorways open at the moment and nonetheless have income coming in, we felt we would have liked to share it,” Patzer mentioned. “As a result of lots of people weren’t capable of keep open.”

Patzer is now glad exercise is selecting up on Principal Road and all through Marshall.

“It’s good to see all the pieces open and I hope that no one was broken too dangerous financially in any case up and down Principal Road, in Marshall and throughout America. As we all know it’s been robust on lots of people. We had been lucky to remain open,” he mentioned.

Wanting again, Patzer can solely evaluate the COVID-19 pandemic to the 2008 monetary disaster. It was tough to get merchandise again then and throughout the pandemic shutdown.

“Whether or not it was freezers or lawnmowers or dryers, all the pieces appears to be a part that’s tied up in manufacturing. This plant is on furlough, or no matter,” Patzer mentioned. “Prospects have actually been affected person with us, making an attempt to get merchandise for his or her kitchens or no matter. It was quite a lot of entire kitchens — since we couldn’t go into properties and set up them — they patiently waited for this COVID factor to type of chill out just a little. So now we’re rocking and rolling and getting individuals taken care of. Some individuals waited two-plus months for his or her home equipment — very patiently.”