Helping after Helene: Lowcountry native feeds NC customers for free

BEAUFORT, S.C. (WSAV) – Amid tragedy comes hope and help.

Porter Gardner runs the Main Street Grill in Weaverville, North Carolina, about 10 minutes outside of Asheville.

The Lowcountry native has kept his doors open and ovens on as best he can since Hurricane Helene hit, feeding everyone who comes by, all for free.

He plans to keep going as long as folks need it.

“People were standing in line for hours at the pharmacy across the street and we knew that we were going to lose food, so we just started giving it away,” Gardner said.

He said it inspired others to do the same.

“We’ve seen people with nothing and come up and get a hot meal and then come back an hour later with five things that they took from their house to donate,” Gardner explained.

His family started a GoFundMe to help the Main Street Grill recover.

Gardner said his goal is to help bring the community back to life.