FORT MYERS — With food being more of a luxury than a necessity in the ravaged city of Fort Myers, Fla. in the aftermath of hurricane Ian, one local man is feeding hundreds of his neighbors and going beyond the basic food selection often offered in the wake of a devastating storm.
Chef and musician Fritz Caraher, 44, is cooking up pork chops, chicken, vegetables and rice to anyone who’s stomach may not be full.
Caraher began feeding hundreds of residents from a distribution center almost immediately after the storm, but that number quickly swelled to about 1,000 and continues to rise.
“I’ve been doing charity events in town for 20 years,” the chef said. “We want to take care of the community that takes care of us.”
Many people in the city are still without power and electricity four days after the hurricane caused widespread damage, making it difficult to cook hot meal.
Food remained limited throughout town on Sunday as rebuild efforts in the city moved forward.
Most restaurants remained closed with the exception of a few food trucks in addition to a couple of diners with few food options.
“Finding food is the hardest part right now,” said Tony Tobler, 35, who didn’t stock up on groceries before the storm because he feared his food would rot with power and electricity to keep it cold. “Food is scarce.”
Caraher, who has been a one-man organizer, asked friends to help volunteer and also sought the assistance of an out-of-town cook who has helped the prepare food, he said.
Donations have come from far and wide such as nearby restaurants whose refrigerated food would have soon spoiled without electricity.
Some food has bee shipped in and some people who have come to eat have also donated money, but much more is needed.
So far, only breakfast and dinner is being offered, however, Caraher would prefer to serve food all day if possible.
“We’re cooking things up,” he said, referring to Sunday night’s menu of chicken coffee, rice and vegetables.
Caraher’s generosity doesn’t stop with food, either. Those sharing a meal can leave with free diapers, baby formula, towels, shoes, water and dog and cat food that may better assist with life at homes as residents to try ember back to a sense of normalcy.
But the main goal is to offer something different to eat that Floridians wouldn’t usually have during these times.
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