Community rallies together to support local business

MAGIC VALLEY — When business at a long standing dry cleaners in Burley started to decline and the owner severely injured himself, a local business owner decided to create a silent auction to help.

“So Darryl’s daughter is married to my uncle and so I saw her post for the go fund me account and being a small business he is literally half a block from my business and I knew that a lot of small businesses are struggling, but small businesses usually tend to band together. So I just started contacting small businesses in the area and saying one of our own needs help," Ariel Perley, Owner Nostalgia coffee and cafe, said.

Kevin Butcher, the owner of Darryll's dry cleaners, had not taken a day off in more than ten years. But that all changed when he fell from his roof when he missed the stop step while climbing down a ladder.

“When he came down he missed the step and he hit the back of the pick up and then from the back of the pick up I guess he hit the bottom of the pick up and then he landed on the ground," Jamie Walker, Kevin Butcher's daughter, said.

After the fall Kevin suffered five broken ribs and a punctured lung. He ended up spending a couple days in the hospital, but because of COVID-19 restrictions, Kevin's family was not able to visit while he was there, the only communication they were allowered were phone calls.

“Oh it’s awful. I can’t imagine, I mean he’s my dad so it’s not that bad, but I can’t imagine the people that have someone in there right now that’s going to pass away or somebody in there like their kid.” Walker said.

Ariel Perley, the owner of a nearby cafe, decided to create a silent auction to raise funds for Kevin to help him during this difficult time. So far she has been able to raise $5,000 in bids.

“People started pouring in way more than what I expected. It was really heartwarming and amazing and it’s been a really awesome experience to see what everybody will do in hard times," Perley said.

This isn't the first time Perley has created a silent auction to help a local business and she has plans to continue to create silent auctions if there are any businesses in need.

If you would like to support Kevin Butcher and his dry cleaning business, you can visit the silent auction for Kevin-Darrells cleaners Facebook page. The auction ends this Saturday at 4 p.m.