Hurricane victims treated to hamburgers
A couple drove 545 miles across Florida to deliver the happiest meal of all: A whopping 460 burgers to people left devastated by Hurricane Michael.
Madelyn and Isaac Levy, of Hollywood, felt they needed to do something more than just send a donation after the storm struck the Florida Panhandle. So they launched Operation Hamburger.
They bought a grill, hamburgers, lettuce, tomatoes and other condiments, with the meat packed in enough ice to last the whole trip. They loaded their Ford F-150 pickup and hit the road Oct. 16.
“Whenever there’s been something within the country, my husband says we really should do something,” said Madelyn Levy, 57. “It’s never really worked out, so this time we said, ‘We’re going to do it.’”
The pair, who were celebrating 35 years of marriage, set their sights on Mexico Beach, where Michael made landfall.
They stopped about 20 miles short of their destination — looking for a restroom — in a small, less affluent community that was in need. They knew they had found the place to serve their meal.
Welcome to Wewahitchka (pronounced “Wee-wa-hitch-kuh”). Population: 2,000.
The Levys set up a tent, fired up the grill and put out a “free burgers” sign. They began feeding people who still had no electricity.
“The fact that they were willing to drive 10 hours one way to come feed us a warm meal on their 35th wedding anniversary, it just speaks volumes, their generosity,” said Lydia Miles, a town resident who was the first to greet the couple and to show them an open spot to pitch their tent near Lake Alice.
For many, it was their first hot meal since the storm rolled through. “They went the extra mile. We would have been happy with just a piece of meat on a bun. They had all the extra fixings to go with it,” Miles said.
The town was appreciative of what the couple was willing to do, driving for three and a half hours that morning after spending the night at a Holiday Inn Express near Gainesville, which was the closest hotel they were able to find ahead of time.
They quickly set up and began serving meals for the next six hours.
“I could tell they were exhausted, but not one complaint. They just smiled and served graciously,” Miles said.
The Levys kicked off what has become a regular occurrence in the town since the hurricane.
The Red Cross was there on Monday serving hamburgers; some people from Destin showed up over the weekend to hold a shrimp boil.
Still, the Levys were the ones who traveled the farthest.
“They were actually the first group to set up in this grassy area,” Miles said. “Now it’s become the place everybody goes to see if they can get some food.”
The Levys are planning to make yet another trip to Wewahitchka, as early as later this week.
About 40 percent of the town is still without electricity.
They left their grill in the town so they could pack even more food in their truck for the next trip.
When they go, they’ll bring hot dogs — because they will cook faster — along with more hamburgers, 400 of each they think.
Isaac Levy, 61, who served in the Israeli air force, said he enjoys cooking for large groups and was glad he made the trip.
It’s a change of pace from their business installing security systems and their hobby creating innovative art glass.
“It really felt like we were doing something, that we were making a difference,” he said.
Madelyn added, "It was really nice. It makes you feel good."