By: MICHAEL OWENS on Business in Savannah
 
Sometimes it takes adversity to see how interconnected we are as a community. When Hurricane Matthew wreaked havoc across the Southeast, we got to see how the Savannah community stepped up to help.

And, there were so many helpers in our community. In big ways and small ways, and even today, those helpers are still coming out of the woodwork to show their commitment to our community and our recovery.

We need to celebrate these stories of helpers. If we herald their work, then it might just inspire more to stand up and be helpers. I am extremely proud of the Tourism Leadership Council members and how they came together to aid our community in a time of critical need.
On Friday afternoon, I got a call from the City of Savannah. There was concern that the City had not stockpiled enough food for all of the first responders and City of Savannah and Chatham County staff. They needed food to get through the storm without having to break into pre-packaged military food known as Meals Ready to Eat. Those could be reserved for worst case scenario because they practically never expire.

Many individuals and organizations have stepped up to make sure residents throughout Savannah and Chatham County are fed as the community continues to recover from Hurricane Matthew.

The Salvation Army Savannah Corps is providing meals on Thursday at Compassion Christian Church, 55 Al Henderson Boulevard, at 6 p.m., in addition to eight food trucks that are roaming various neighborhoods.
So far about 14,000 to 15,000 meals have been provided through the program since the storm hit, said Salvation Army Major Phil Swyers. 

As the power comes back on the needs will get less and less, Swyers said.

Source: Savannah Morning News 
Several restaurants members of the Georgia Restaurant Association helped to rebuild their community by providing food for first responders and returning evacuees. Floyd Anderson was instrumental in the relief efforts. He is a GRA board member and vice president of administration of Domino’s, which donated 200 pizzas for the returning evacuees, 50 for first responders before the storm hit, and another 30 for the Southside Fire Department, Landings Security, Armstrong State University Police, and Montgomery County Fire Department Inmate Trainees.

“We hope our efforts were helpful to those who were working to keep our community safe. We appreciate all the long hours and hard work from our first responders, and we hope keeping them fed helped make their jobs a little easier,” said Anderson.
Pat Warner, vice president of culture for Waffle House, said they began to track the storm early on, ordering generators and extra food to anticipate the need.

Hurricane Matthew ripped through the Georgia coast over the weekend leaving destruction, people without power and flooded roads as a result. Restaurant members of the Georgia Restaurant Association were quick to step up and give back to those in a time of need. Several restaurants helped to rebuild their community by providing food for first responders and returning evacuees.

GRA board member and Vice President of Administration of Domino’s, Floyd Anderson, was instrumental in the relief efforts. Domino’s donated 200 pizzas for the returning evacuees, 50 for first responders before the storm hit, and another 30 for the Southside Fire Department, Landings Security, Armstrong State University Police, and Montgomery County Fire Department Inmate Trainees.

“We hope our efforts were helpful to those who were working to keep our community safe. We appreciate all the long hours and hard work from our first responders, and we hope keeping them fed helped make their jobs a little easier,” said Anderson.