CAROLINA BEACH — Tragedies have a way of bringing communities together, and the recent fire at Inland Harbor in Carolina Beach that claimed the life of one resident and displaced many others has already prompted action from Carolina Beach businesses and residents.
The Carolina Beach Disaster Relief Fund has started a GoFundMe campaign to help victims of the fire and local businesses, including The Lazy Pirate and The Last Resort, are also doing what they can to help.
Eli Ellsworth and his business partner Todd Barber are the owners of the Last Resort Beach Bar in Carolina Beach, they, along with other local area businesses are hosting the Inland Harbor Fire Community BBQ, Fundraiser, and Raffle on Saturday.
Ellsworth said the support from the community has already been significant, adding that one of the reasons he decided to invest in Carolina Beach was the sense of community in the town. The event will have three whole pigs for roasting along with live music, raffles, and a good time.
The event kicks off at noon on Saturday at The Last Resort. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the event will go to the Carolina Beach Disaster Relief Fund; Ellsworth said during a previous fundraiser, over $10,000 was raised in a day and he hopes to exceed that amount Saturday.
The Last Resort’s barbecue on Saturday is not the last chance to help give back.
On Jan. 16, from 6-9 p.m. Lazy Pirate is hosting an Inland Harbor Fire Victims Benefit where 100 percent of profits from all food sales will be donated to the Pleasure Island Disaster Relief Fund.
Director of Promotions and Events for the Lazy Pirate, Danny Swinson helped plan the event after seeing the fire on TV.
“When I saw it on the news I reached out to one of the owners and our general manager. We have done some phenomenal fundraisers here before for the Puerto Rico disaster as well as the animals in Texas. I felt that we needed to step up and do something immediately,” Swinson said.
There will be live music provided by JW Thomas as well as a 50/50 raffle, silent auction, and prize raffles.
“These people need the money now, they are without cell phones, without roofs over their heads, everything that we take for granted on a daily basis … The Savannah Inn’s owner stepped up and they are housing some of the people there. This community is like no other I’ve ever lived in … we have such a tight knit community here, I’ve seen this community come together unlike anywhere else,” Swinson said.
Councilman JoDan Garza offered his opinion on the fire as well as the response from both the community and rescue workers.
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