MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – A woman who lost her home in the fire that devastated a Carolina Forest neighborhood four years ago is helping raise money for Horry County firefighters in need.
Jodi Aldridge was a victim of the fire in the Windsor Green community.
“It completely changed my life. I hate the fact that that ever happened, but I like the fact that we can come together and take a tragedy and turn it into something positive,” explains Aldridge.
Aldridge says what impacted her most that day, were those who came to her rescue. “After I watched all the firefighters work so hard that day for us, I thought, I want to give back.”
So for the past four years, Aldridge has put together a fundraiser that helps support Horry County Firefighters, but the bigger life change for Aldridge was made when she became a volunteer firefighter in 2016.
“It’s moved my life in a lot of ways. They work hard and deal with things you would never imagine,” Aldridge explains.
Aldridge organized a fundraiser at Handley’s Pub and Grub for the Horry County Firefighter Relief Fund, which aids firefighters and their families throughout Horry County when they fall on hard times.
Relief Fund President Dennis Picard says the relief benefits are crucial for helping the families of firefighters, especially in major events like the October 2015 flood or the destruction of Hurricane Matthew.
“In their time of need, we can pull resources together,” says Picard. “Relief benefits that we can get them within 24 hours, benefits for burial services. During the floods we were able to get in contact with fire restoration companies and get equipment out for some of our people.”
Picard says the devastation of the Windsor Green fire has had a lasting impact on Horry County. “It shows that fire doesn’t discriminate. It happens anywhere to anyone. It can impact any community at any time.”
Sunday night’s event was the fourth year Aldridge has organized the fundraiser, which included a raffle, t-shirt sales, and Handley’s donating a portion of its proceeds to the relief funds.
Picard says gestures like Aldridge’s go a long way. “You go out and you do the job every day and you never expect a ‘thank you’ but when a thank you comes like this, it is absolutely rewarding.”
