Full hearts and full stomachs left Chili's locations across Colorado on Monday.
Fallen Colorado State Patrol Trooper Jaimie Jursevics was a Chili's regular before she died. Police say a driver hit and killed her after hours of drinking. She was investigating a crash near Castle Rock at the time of her death last month.
"Words can't describe how painful it has been," said close family friend Rochelle Kolhouse.
A Chili's team member who regularly served Jursevics' recognized her photo on the news and wanted to give back to her family. Jursevics' and her husband often visited the Chili's location off I-25 and Hampden.
"He made a phone call and said we need to do something," said Sgt. Rob Madden with the Colorado State Patrol. "And very quickly the entire state got behind it."
A small idea turned quickly into a statewide initiative.
Fallen trooper remembered as a beacon of light
Chili's locations statewide decided to give 15 percent of their proceeds to Jursevics' husband and their 9-month-old daughter.
"We're just coming here cause she came here a lot and it's a good memory," said 8-year-old Jayden Kolhouse who also knew Jursevics.
"It's huge for the state patrol, it gives us a sense of meaning - it lets us know that people do truly care," said Sgt. Madden.
Touched by the generosity, Jursevics' husband said he'll give a portion of the donations to the Colorado State Patrol Family Foundation, which is instrumental in assisting Colorado State Patrol members when they are sick, hurt or killed, and the Flying Wheels Foundation, which is dedicated to helping with the immediate financial needs that are realized when a law enforcement officer is hurt or killed.
The idea applied to all sales through closing time on Monday night.
For people who came out on Monday it was a chance to enjoy a meal with friends and family, and remember the life of Trooper Jursevics.
"Loving mother, wonderful friend," said Kolhouse.
"Just her personality, how like fiery she was and how she like just the thing how she was a state trooper," said Jordan Kolhouse.
It was a packed house at this Chilis off Monaco and Hampden as people came to honor Trooper Jaimie Jursevics. pic.twitter.com/owyqiDr2U2
— Jennifer Kovaleski (@JennKovaleski) December 22, 2015
