MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. — Right now, communities rebuilding from recent hurricanes are making the most of the holidays.
In Madeira Beach, neighbors and strangers are stepping up to help as many as possible.
Beach Aid is being held this Saturday at the Madeira Beach City Hall Complex. The event will feature free meals, clothes, counseling, live music and a kid play zone.
"It's a city that all comes together in a time of need and it's special," Bill Karns, a developer who is among those putting the event together said.
The event is a joint effort with several groups including Karns' R.O.C. Park Foundation, which stands for "Remember Our Children." It began in honor of his son William Karns III, who passed away in 2013.
Karns is one of several people working non-stop to rebuild after hurricanes Helene and Milton. As Thanksgiving approaches, he and others involved want to ensure storm survivors have the help they need.
The goal is to feed at least 2,000 people this weekend. Karns stresses the opportunity to help survivors navigate the aftermath of the storms with help from mental health professionals.
For weeks, volunteers have been working to collect much-needed supplies and food at the donation center at Saltwater Hippie Beach Bar.
Families lined up outside the relief center Wednesday to pick up meals. Many of those in need are families who aren't able to return to their homes for the holiday and are still waiting on permits to make repairs.
Volunteer Laila Baumanis understands what families are going through after her home sustained damages from both storms.
"I'm not making a ton of money right now, but I have time to volunteer," she said. "It makes us feel good to help other people."
Karns said at least half of the properties he owns sustained damages from the storms, leading to at least thousands of dollars of losses in rent every month.
While Saturday's event is aiming to help as many people as possible, Karns said it won't be the last. The goal is to hold similar events every couple of months for storm survivors.
"This isn't a sprint," Karns said. "This is a marathon and we're in it for the long haul. We're in it to help support the community."
Beach Aid begins at noon this Saturday and lasts until 5 p.m.
