I was amused to see that one of the stories I ran on Vinton Today last week made its way across the country to Virginia! I chuckled because, well, you'll see.

I remember in the first weeks of Vinton Today's existence being amazed by the ripple effects of a story. It was fun to track the origination of a story and then watch for it to pop up in Cedar Rapids, Waterloo and as far as Des Moines.

At least this paper recognized the origin of the story, with a mention of Vinton Today. That always makes things a little better in this world. 

But anyway, the Roanoke Star reporter bio says that the writer covers sports and local news "and whatever's actually going on around town." He said he's also a Virginia native and "he's built his beat the hard way: show up, ask the awkward question, and tell readers straight what he finds." I like that in a reporter person, telling it straight takes less work than spinning things.

 If I ever start to understand football, I'll write about the "Vinton" Vikings, whom I might add, also play in the school in Vinton, Virginia, though not the same team. Just for giggles, maybe I'll also cover the Vinton teams in Texas and Lousiana while I'm at it. So be careful out there, that local news might not be as local as you think!

It's funny to me, only because I've been contacted before about an accident or some random shooting in Vinton, and I remember calling the Sheriff's office once to inquire,  only for them to say, "huh?" Then I discover through more digging that it was a story someone saw from Virginia (usually) or once there was an incident in Texas. 

As I chuckle at this story being shared, I thought that Doug Wood and the Vinton Lutheran Living Community might get a kick out of it. And hey, if you see any Virginia license plates in line for the next event, you'll know they read it here first, on Vinton Today!


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Text of the story in the Roanoke Star is below for the seeing impaired to enjoy and chuckle at!

Vinton Lutheran Living Closes out 11-Week Summer Drive-Thru Run


Author: Ray Wooten|

Updated: August 21, 2026

Vinton Lutheran Living Communities held its last weekly Drive-Thru fundraiser of the summer on a rainy Wednesday in August, wrapping an 11-week run that fed hundreds of customers each week.

According to Vinton Today, the event ran every Wednesday throughout June, July, and the first two Wednesdays of August, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The finale drew a strong crowd despite the wet weather. Dietary Director Sean Costello told Vinton Today that while the typical weekly average came in around 260 burgers sold, the final event pushed that number to 312.


The kitchen crew seasons the patties with its own proprietary spice blend.

The Scale Behind Each Weekly Event

The Drive-Thru required a coordinated effort well before the first customer arrived. Long Term Care Administrator Justin Ealy explained to Vinton Today that it takes 14 staff members to run the event each Wednesday.

Preparation begins at 8:45 a.m., roughly two hours before serving starts, and continues through cleanup.

Malts were a major draw. Social Services Director Robin Pippert noted that a dedicated crew of five people handles malt production, and that the final event alone saw 300 malts served: roughly 200 chocolate and 100 vanilla.

Assistant Director of Nursing Pam Parmater added that blending starts at 8:45 a.m. and continues through noon or until the rush subsides. All of this happened simultaneously with kitchen staff preparing the regular 11 a.m. and noon meals for residents and tenants.

Proceeds Head to New Dining Room Chairs

The money raised across the season will go toward purchasing new dining room chairs for the facility, according to Vinton Today and the Community Newspaper Group. The Drive-Thru functions as a community fundraiser, not just a meal service.

One More Event on the Calendar

The season is not entirely over.

An evening Drive-Thru is scheduled for Thursday, September 3, running from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The menu for that event shifts away from burgers: Philly cheesesteaks and pulled pork sandwiches will each be offered at $7, malts at $3, and a combo of a sandwich, malt, and two sides (coleslaw or pasta salad) at $10.

Proceeds from the September event will support resident enhancements, according to Vinton Today.

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