>> Eden: YESTERDAY THE RIVER
CITY LIVE AND NEWS FOR JAX FOLKS
WENT OUT TO FEED SOME PEOPLE OUT
AT CALHOUN COMMUNITY CENTER.
TAKE A LOOK A COMMUNITY COMING
TOGETHER
>> Mark: THE CITY OF
JACKSONVILLE AND ALL THE
SURROUNDING AREAS ARE JUST
STARTING TO RECOVER.
YEAH, WE WERE HIT PRETTY HARD.
OUR COMMUNITY HAS NOT
EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS
IN DECADES.
>> WE HAVE SOME VIDEO TAKEN A
FEW HOURS AGO AS WATER WAS
SURGING FROM THE RIVER.
ANOTHER STREET THAT'S BEEN
TURNED INTO A RIVER AS SOUTHEAST
GEORGIA WAS ALSO HIT BY THE
RIVER.
>> Mark: BUT WE WILL FULLY
RECOVER, REBUILD ANDRECONNECT
OUR COMMUNITI
.
WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
>> CREWS, NEIGHBORS, VOLUNTEERS
HELPING TO CLEAN UP ALL THE
TREES THAT WERE TAKEN DOWN.
>> Mark: FIRST COAST STRONG.
>> WE COULD BE WORSE OFF.
I THINK OF OTHER PLACES LIKE
TEXAS AND OTHER PLACES THAT IS
REALLY DEVASTATED.
I THANK GOD FOR WHAT WE HAVE.
I THANK GOD FOR LIFE.
THAT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN
ANYTHING.
I'M JUST HAPPY TO BE ALIVE
WE AS PEOPLE NEED TO COME
TOGETHER.
NO NEGATIVE.
JUST TOGETHERNESS BECAUSE WE ARE
ALL GOING THROUGH TOGETHER.
IF WE STAND TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE
IT THROUGH.
>> Mark: AND WE ARE STANDING
TOGETHER.
>> THAT'S I'M TALKING ABOUT.
IT IS A GOOD THING.
>> IT IS AWESOME.
IT IS AWESOME.
THE OUTPOUR OF AURLT PEOPLE THAT
WANT TO DONATE THINGS, DONATE
THEIR TIME IS JUST PERFEC
OTHER PEOPLE WANT TO HELP, THAT
IS GREAT.
>> IT FEELS GOOD.
I KEPT TELLING THEM, HOLD ON.
IT SURE WOULD BE GOOD WHEN I
HAVE A NICE, HOT MEAL.
I PULLED UP AND I WAS LIKE,
FOOD, SOMETHING HOT.
THAT IS ALL WE NEED, JUST
SOMETHING HOT.
YOU CAN DEAL WITH THE REST.
YOU JUST HAVE TO TAKE IT ONE DAY
AT A TIME.
>> Mark: LACY, MICHAEL AND
BELLA, YOU ARE HERE AT THE
SHELTER.
WHAT HAS THE EXPERIENCE BEEN
LIKE FOR YOU SO FAR MANY.
>> IT'S BEEN A BLESSING.
THEY HAVE TRULY BEEN THERE FOR
US AND HELPED US IN AMAZING
WAYS.
>> Rance: HOW LONG HAVE YOU
BEEN HERE IN.
>> THIS IS THE SECOND DAY.
>> Rance: HOW LONG DO YOU THINK
YOU'LL BE HERE?
>> I'M REALLY NOT SURE AT THIS
TIME.
>> Rance: WHAT KIND OF DAMAGE
DID YOU SUSTAIN?
>> WE ARE HOMELESS.
WE LOST EVERYTHING.
[BABY CRYING].
>> Rance: HOW OLD IS OUR
BEAUTIFUL BABY GIRL?
>> SIX WEEKS OLD.
>> Rance: THE ONE ASPECT IS YOU
DO HAVE THE FAMILY ALL TOGETHER.
I'M SORRY THAT YOU GUYS ARE
HAVING TO DEAL WITH IT UNDER
THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.
WHAT IS IT LIKE HAVING
TREMENDOUS BARBECUE COME DOWN
AND GIVE YOU THIS --
>> IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL HAVING A
HOME COOKED MEAL.
>> HOT MEAL IS GOOD.
>>Rance: THEY HAVE BEEN TAKING
GOOD CARE OF YOU AS BEST THE
CAN?
>> MORE THAN THEY EVEN CAN.
THEY HAVE BEEN GOING OUT OF
THEIR WAY, GOING TO THE STORE,
GOING OVER AND BEYOND THEIR JOB.
>> Rance: GOOD LUCK TO YOU
GUYS.
I HOPE THINGS TURNED AROUND FOR
YOU AND WE'LL BE ON THELOOKOUT.
THANK YOU FOR SPENDING TIME WITH
US
MELANIE, YOU ARE VERY INVOLVED
IN THE COMMUNITY AND COMING DOWN
TO WEST AUGUSTINE TO GIVE FOOD
TO PEOPLE IN NEED.
WHAT IS IT LIKE FOR YOU?
>> IT IS INTERESTING BECAUSE WE
WERE HERE AFTER HURRICANE
MATTHEW AND WE SAW THE
DEVASTATION TO THE PEOPLE AND
THE PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE
TO GET BACK TO THEIR HOME.
TO BE BACK HERE LESS THAN A WEEK
LATER, A LOT OF THEM ARE AT
SAINT FRANCIS SHELTER AND THEIR
SHELTER NOW FOR THE SECOND TIME
IN A ROW HAS BEEN DESTROYED.
IT IS GOING TO NEED A LOT OF
WORK.
THESE PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH
THIS, TAKING IT IN STRIDE.
THEY HAVE GOOD ATTITUDES.
IT MEANS SO MUCH BECAUSE WE ARE
PART OF THIS COMMUNITY AND WE
FEEL THE EFFECTS OF THIS STORM.
I THINK TO BE ABLE TO SAY HEY,
WE HAVE A MEAL FOR YOU, A GOOD
MEAL, AND TO BE ABLE TO SHAKE
SOME HANDS AND ENCOURAGE THEM,
IT IS -- THERE IS NOTHING BETTER
THAN THAT.
>> I SEE YOU SHARING A HUG AND
I KNOW THAT GOES A LONG WAY.
WE ALL WANT A GOOD MEAL, BUT
JUST TO KNOW PEOPLE IN OUR
COMMUNITY ARE SUPPORTING OTHERS
IN THE COMMUNITY, THAT IS
AMAZING.
>> WE HAVE BEEN GETTING A LOT
OF STORIES, PICTURES, VIDEO, AND
PEOPLE WHO JUST WANT TO TALK
ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE GOING
THROUGH AND TO HAVE A
SYMPATHETIC EAR.
I HAVE POWER.
I FEEL SO BLESSED JUST TO HAVE
POWER.
FOR ME TO SAY HEY, TELL ME YOUR
STORY, WHAT ARE YOU GOING
THROUGH?
THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THAN
THAT TO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO CAN
LISTEN TO YOU, RELATE TO YOU,
TALK TO YOU AND GET YOU THROUGH
THESE TOUGH TIMES.
I THINK THAT IS WHAT MAKES THIS
COMMUNITY SO COOL IS THAT MEME
WHO HAVE NOTHING, HELPING PEOPLE
WHO HAVE SOMETHING, PEOPLE WHO
HAVE SOMETHING HELPING PEOPLE
WHO HAVE NOTHING.
IT IS JUST THIS FULL CIRCLE THAT
MAKES IT SO MUCH EASIER TO DEA
WITH THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
>> Rance: I FEEL VERY LUCKY
THAT I HAVE THE POWER TO BE ABLE
TO COME OUT AND BE PART OF THE
COMMUNITY AND SHOW LOVE.
I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT "RIVER CITY
LIVE," SUPPORT YOUR LOCALS, AND
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO
HERE.
MARK IS DOING HIS THING.
HE IS FINDING OUT MORE
INFORMATION, SO LET'S CHECK IN
AND SEE WHAT HE HAS FOR YOU.
>> Mark: THANKS RANCE.
I'M WITH TERRY, THE OWNER OF
TREE MENDOUS BARBECUE.
OBVIOUSLY DEVASTATION HAS SWEPT
THROUGH JACKSONVILLE WITH
HURRICANE IRMA.
LET ME ASK YOU THIS.
YOU HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT ALL
YOUR LIFE.
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE
THIS BEFORE?
>> NEVER AT ALL.
NEVER.
>> Mark: NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT
YOUR CALL TO ACTION.
YOU HAVE BEEN HELPING OUT SO
MANY PEOPLE, LIKE RIGHT HERE IS
A PRIME EXAMPLE.
WE ARE AT THE REC CENTER TURNED
INTO THE RED CROSS SHELTER AND
YOU ARE PROVIDING FREE MEALS TO
THESE PEOPLE.
>> WE TRY TO FEED ALL FIRST
RESPONDERS FOR THE WHOLE MONTH
OF SEPTEMBER.
WE HAVE DONE IT A FEW YEARS IN A
ROW.
WE ARE WORKING WITH JA RIGHT NOW
AND TRYING TO FEED AS MANY
LINEMAN AS WE CAN SO THEY CAN
CONTINUE TO RESTORE POWER.
ANY TIME WE ARE CALLED ON THIS,
WE LIKE TO GIVE BACK WHEN WE
CAN.
>> Mark: I KNOW YOU ARE REALLY
PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT AND YOUR
COMMUNITY.
THAT IS WHY YOU ARE HERE.
ON A PERSONAL SIDE, HOW MANY
FREE MEALS HAVE YOU DONATED
ALREADY?
>> IT IS HARD TO SAY BECAUSE WE
WERE FEEDING FIRST RESPONDERS
BEFORE THIS HAPPENED.
I DON'T REALLY LOOK AT IT UNTIL
THE END OF THE MONTH.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, THE
SEPTEMBERS WE HAVE DONE IT IS
THE BEST SEPTEMBERS WE HAVE EVER
HAD.
THE MORE WE GIVE AWAY, THE MORE
WE DO.
>> Mark: I THINK THAT IS A
TRIBUTE TO EVERYBODY WHO LIVES
IN THIS AREA.
WE SEE THAT, WE APPRECIATE THAT
AND WE WANT TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL
BUSINESSES, ESPECIALLY THE ONES
THAT ARE GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND.
HOW WERE YOU PERSONALLY AFFECTED
BY IT, YOUR HOUSE AND FAMILY?
>> PERSONALLY, NOT TERRIBLY.
WE WORKED THROUGH IT.
WE STRUGGLED AT THE RESTAURANT
WITH THE EMPLOYEES AND THEY HAVE
ISSUES THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH
AND I HAVE TO BE SENSITIVE TO
THAT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME I
HAVE TO KEEP OBLIGATIONS, SO IT
MAKES IT DIFFICULT IN THAT
RESPECT.
>> Mark: WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT
GOING ALL IN AND DONATING FOOD
AND YOUR TIME AND RESOURCES,
WHERE DOES THAT COME FROM?
>> LIFELONG RESIDENT OF
JACKSONVILLE.
I GREW UP WITH 14 BROTHERS AND
SISTERS.
>> Mark: IT IS PART OF WHO YOU
ARE.
>> IT IS.
>> Mark: IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT
FUTURE WHEN YOU ARE BACK ON YOUR
FEET AND THE COMMUNITY, WHAT CAN
WE DO TO HELP YOU OUT?
>> YOU KNOW, THAT IS A TOUGH
QUESTION.
I MEAN, WE'RE GOOD.
WE'RE GOOD.
>> Mark: THAT IS GOOD TO HERE.
IT DOESN'T HURT TO COME BY,
SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES,
SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY AND KEEP
GIVING BACK.
IN JUST A BIT YOU ARE GOING TO
OPEN UP THE CAR AND PUT SMILES
ON A LOT OF PEOPLES' FACES.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU?
>> IT IS GREAT.
I DON'T WANT TO TAKE ALL THE
CREDIT.
THERE ARE A LOT OF FOOD TRUCKS
IN JACKSONVILLE AND ANY ONE OF
THEM THAT YOU CALL WOULD DO
EXACTLY WHAT I'M DOING RIGHT
NOW.
YOU ARE A CLASS ACT.
IT IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HANG
OUT WITH YOU.
THANKS FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
>> Eden: THAT WAS REALLY WELL
PUT TOGETHER.
KUDOS TO YOU, JUSTIN MILLER, FOR
DOING THAT.
IT IS AMAZING TO SEE WHAT THE
COMMUNITY CAN DO.
GOSH, THAT FAMILY IS HOMELESS
NOW.
WHEN YOU SEE IT LIKE THAT --
>> Mark: WORKING FOR AN
ORGANIZATION LIKE THIS, YOU HAVE
THE UNIQUE ABILITY TO GO BEYOND
THE STORIES THAT YOU SEE ON TV
AND ACTUALLY TALK TO THESE
PEOPLE AND SEE SITUATIONS WITH
THE BABY AND THE BABY BOTTLE.
I'M LIKE, HOW MUCH SUPPLIES AND
RESOURCES DO THEY HAVE RIGHT
NOW?
IF ANY.
>> Eden: BABY FORMULA.
>> Rance: DIAPERS.
>> Mark: ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU
SEE THE KIDS.
SOME OF THE PEOPLE AT THAT
SHELTER WERE MOVED FROM ANOTHER
SHELTER ACROSS TOWN BECAUSE IT
STARTED TO FLOOD.
>> Rance: THAT PARTICULAR
SHELTER HAS 130 SOME ODD BEDS
THAT WEREN'T COMPLETELY FULL,
BUT THEY EXPECT PEOPLE TO FLOW
IN AND OUT THROUGHOUT THE COMING
DAYS.
>> Eden: I'LL JUST SAY WHAT
EVERYONE IS THINKING.
DO YOU THINK MELANIE HAS BABY
FEVER NOW?
>> Mark: WHAT I WAS GOING TO
SAY, A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE ON THE
MEND AND WE HAVE POWER AND WE
ARE GETTING BETTER BUT THERE ARE