Lenore Brown was just about to enjoy dinner with her husband when the couple learned a woman ran her vehicle through their restaurant Dawgs & More in Rincon.
The incident occurred just before 6 p.m. Sunday night. According to the police report, the motorist told authorities she has “a lot of medical conditions.” She also told authorities she was trying to see if the restaurant was open, but could not tell due to the black windows. Before she knew it, “she was in the building.”
A post on the restaurant’s Facebook page described it as a “shocking incident.”
“I freaked out,” said Brown.
Despite it all, Brown is focused on putting others first.
In less than 24 hours, she managed to put together a fundraiser Monday afternoon, selling items from the restaurant at Freedom Park to help support staff members who are impacted by the temporary closing of the restaurant.
“When your heart is in something, anything is possible,” said Brown. “I have too many people that depend on me.”
Lenore Brown mans the grill at the Christmas Market in Rincon to help raise money for her staff.
A post on the restaurant’s Facebook page reads, “We’re grateful for the opportunity and our priority to make a positive impact in the lives of our staff and a local family in need this week of Christmas.”
This isn’t the first tragedy to strike the family business as the restaurant suffered a fire last summer, which delayed the opening.
Despite the crash happening just days before Christmas, Brown is looking ahead to the new year for ways she can serve the area’s homeless population. Brown wants to host one pot wonders on Sundays to feed the homeless once her restaurant is up and running again.
For now, take out and deliveries will resume next week.
Want to help?
Those wishing to donate to help staff members and the family the Brown’s adopted for Christmas can send funds to the following:
Venmo: @lenore-brown-19
Zelle: 912-271-8024
Latrice Williams is a general assignment reporter covering Bryan and Effingham County. She can be reached at lwilliams6@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Accident causes restaurant to close in Rincon
