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St. Pete local has cooked almost 25k meals for hurricane victims in his community

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Published  November 28, 2024 9:35pm EST
Pinellas County
FOX 13 News

Hurricane cleanup paused for Thanksgiving

FOX 13's Kylie Jones reports on St. Pete's Relief Market and Grille which was established to distribute donations and cook meals for Shore Acre residents displaced by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

ST. PETE, Fla. - Neighbors in St. Pete are trying to bring the holiday spirit to their neighborhood as people recover from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. 

Hurricanes Helene and Milton left behind life-altering damage in Shore Acres in St. Pete. 

"My house is down to studs," said Matt Thorn, who lives in Shore Acres. "You can literally kind of see through it, almost all the way to the pool."

READ: Tourists should expect Pinellas County beaches to feel different this Thanksgiving after hurricanes

Thorn says he had 28 inches of water inside his home during Helene. 

Despite losing his home, Thorn has been trying to help the rest of the community over the last two months. 

He started the Relief Market and Grille to distribute essential items or donations and cook meals for other neighbors. 

Relief Market and Grille in Matt Thorns front yard.

Relief Market and Grille in Matt Thorns front yard.

"I’m here pretty much from 8 a.m. until 9 or 10 p.m.," Thorn said.

Thorn says the relief site has continued to grow and become a gathering point for people in the neighborhood.

READ: Salvation Army Giving Tree spreading joy to children this Christmas

On Thanksgiving Day, Thorn cooked a traditional Thanksgiving dinner to make sure everyone had a place to eat.

Matt Thorn cooking for the Shore Acres community from his home.

Matt Thorn cooking for the Shore Acres community from his home.

"We don’t want the tragedy to be the forefront of the holidays this year," Thorn said.

Since Helene, he says they’ve cooked 23,000 meals for people.

"Cooking and being over the grill or making something, that’s my love language," Thorn said. "That’s my therapy."

READ: Tampa church giving away thousands of free turkeys to families in need ahead of Thanksgiving 

The hurricane recovery and rebuild isn’t an overnight process. 

After the large-scale assistance and outreach slow down, Thorn says he wants to remain a place where people can turn for help and support, especially during the holidays. 

"To make sure that we are still kind of helping the community to move forward," Thorn said. 

Turkey prepared by Matt Thorn for hurricane victims of Shore Acres community during Thanksgiving.

Turkey prepared by Matt Thorn for hurricane victims of Shore Acres community during Thanksgiving.

Thorn says he plans to continue giving out supplies and cooking meals, as many people in Shore Acres still live in garages, RVs, or tents outside their homes.

READ: Man known as a ‘loose cannon’ for homemade alcohol in Saudi Arabia opens Lakewood Ranch distillery

"We’re going to be here, and we’re going to be here for the long haul of it," Thorn said.

Thorn says they’re already planning several holiday events for the neighborhood through the end of the year.

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