Hacienda Gives Back for teen in accident

A bad car accident on December 16, 2015 has left a Plymouth teen in the hospital for weeks. Now her workplace is coming together to help raise funds for her and her family.

“She was driving and as far as what we know, she lost control of her truck and suffered from a traumatic brain injury and also a broken femur. She was airlifted and taken to the Fort Wayne hospital,” said Melissa's coworker Heather Boyle who is a waitress at Hacienda.

Melissa Johnson is a 19-year-old freshman at Indiana University South Bend and a graduate of Plymouth High School. Prior to the accident, she had been an employee of Hacienda since June 2014.

“She’s a doll. She’s worked here since she was 17 years old. We have our fingers crossed that one day she’ll be back with us. She was a great employee,” said Manager Cheryl Stouder.

From 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Tuesday, Hacienda will have a "Hacienda Gives Back" to raise money for Johnson's family and the growing medical bills.

“Medical expenses are outlandish right now. A lot of this money will probably go to help out with the home renovations and making it handicap accessible for when they bring her home,” Stouder added.

She said that Johnson has made improvements and has recently been transported to a rehabilitation facility in Chicago where she will spend the next couple months.

“She was such a great person. Seeing her be so young, it’s devastating and she still has a long way to go,” Boyle said.

After the give back is over, 20% of the money raised will be donated to the family.

“That’s something about this store down here. We’re a family, we all stick together,” said Stouder.

To participate in the give back, people need to bring a printed token with them to the restaurant.

Tokens cannot be distributed at the restaurant but can be picked up at various places around town such as: Plymouth High School, Plymouth Tanning Company, Yoder's Sports Center, Coffee Lodge, and The Zone.