MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – An inn, which allowed people displaced by Hurricane Florence to stay for free, celebrated Thanksgiving with them Wednesday.
Jaret Hucks has a tradition on the night before Thanksgiving every year outside the Midtown Inn and Cottages, which he owns.
“Just fry turkeys for my family and my employees and staff that want a fried turkey,” Hucks said. “I’ll fry them up.”
Hucks needed more turkeys this year because his family has gotten a lot bigger.
“When you invite 400 people into your house to come stay with you and move in because their house is gone, now they’re your family,” he said.
After Hurricane Florence, Hucks opened the Midtown Inn to anyone needing a home after the storm and its flooding.
Many of the victims returned for the Thanksgiving eve turkey fry at “Camp Midtown,” their nickname for the inn because of fun activities helping kids get through the disaster.
“We literally ate dinner with these people every night for a month,” said Amber McElroy, who stayed at the Midtown after evacuating her home in Longs.
“Camp Midtown” is special for McElroy, who gave birth to her daughter, Zadie Bishop, a day before Florence hit.
Now, McElroy’s new family can see how much Zadie has grown.
“We appreciate it so much and Zadie will definitely know about her first month,” she said.
Those who still live in the Midtown say they’re especially thankful for one thing this year: Hucks’s generosity.
“Because of him, we are here and we are thankful for it,” said Cotessia Sumpter, who evacuated from Conway and still lives in the Midtown. “This is what this meal means.”
Hucks says he appreciates everyone who helped him open the Midtown to hundreds of people who needed a free room.
“I thought it was a good idea to get us all back one more time,” said Hucks. “Who knows? We might do it again. This is Camp Midtown.”
Volunteers after the storm and donors also went to the Thanksgiving eve turkey fry.
Hucks says at least 25 victims of Hurricane Florence are still staying at the Midtown Inn.