The couple are ministers at Gethsemane Church in Dunkirk “and were taking people to appointments, to welfare, to Walmart, and we knew there was a need,” David said.

“So now, this business can help the community and sustain itself at the same time. We can be a blessing twice,” he added.

They have two taxis, which do not run on a formal business hours schedule. “If you can wake me up, I’m there,” David said. “We leave the phone on. … We were doing the set times but it wasn’t working because we take people out of the hospital, they discharge people from the emergency room at all times of the night, some people don’t have rides. We provide free rides if they can’t afford it, we provide some kind of arrangements.”

Chautauqua Opportunities, where Luz is a receptionist, was vital in getting the business up and running. “Our mission is to help individuals become self sufficient and work their way out of poverty,” said Diane Hughes Johnson, who heads up Chautauqua Opportunities. “Adam (Duckett) from our economic development program helped work with them and guided them in the particulars of starting a business and becoming a successful business.”

City of Dunkirk and Chautauqua Opportunities officials stand next to David and Luz Morales, center, as the ribbon is cut for their new business, DL Family Cab.

“A lot of folks just need a little bit of assistance, we call it our technical assistance,” said Duckett. “If there’s an obstacle they’re having trouble overcoming, we’ll spend some time, we’ll break it down for them… We want to make sure that we’re getting these businesses prepared, understanding their business plan and financials, getting them ready to get funding. If they are looking for funding, we can offer them loans.”

Luz also sought to thank Chautauqua Opportunities’ Mike Michalski for his help.

To get a ride from DL Family Cab, call them at 716-400-0322 or message them on Facebook. The company’s rates for rides are on its Facebook page. David said they are planning to get a website soon, as well.

“We treat people like family,” David said. “You’re not a client, a customer, but you’re family… we’re going to pamper you, we’re going to spoil you, we’re going to do the part that we gotta do. We might even pray for you, if you need prayer.”

“Our priority is to get you there safe. Safety is first,” Luz said. “Things are getting really bad nowadays. Coming from the background that we’ve come from, we know that people do need to be safe.”

“We don’t just drop people off, we make sure they make it inside their home,” David said.