JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Local first responders are rallying around Junior’s Seafood Restaurant after a fire forced it to close almost two weeks ago.
Police officers from JSO’s zone 6 substation have been raising money for one of their favorite restaurants, Junior’s Seafood Restaurant on Main Street.
Within a day these officers sprang into action to help.
ORIGINAL STORY: Popular Jacksonville seafood restaurant, sandwich shop badly damaged in fire
“We got with all of the officers here in Zone 6, which is where the restaurant is, and reached out to everyone and said if you’d like to make a donation then we’d like to collect,” Lt. Adam Blinn with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said.
The Fraternal Order of Police, fire union IAFF and JFRD fire station 37 also chipped in to help.
Abraham Hassan the owner of Junior’s told me his employees are going through a tough time and not everyone is able to pick up shifts at their Callahan location.
“A couple of them, unfortunately, don’t have a ride out to Callahan so they’re trying to get through that. There was one we lost because he couldn’t go out to Callahan unfortunately, but they’re trying to be patient with us,” Hassan said.
Together these first responders have been able to raise a little over $3,000 to buy gift cards that are being handed out to the employees.
In the meantime, Hassan told Action News Jax he’s ready to rebuild and will set up a food truck in the next couple of weeks to help employees in need of work.
“We can’t wait for that day; we can’t wait to open our restaurant back up for the customers and the community,” he said.
For now, he said the gift cards will really help his staff.
“It’s going to put some food on the table for them, offset some of the hours that they’re not receiving currently,” he said.
“I think it’s important because we are one community, there are no different sides, we’re one community They appreciate us, we appreciate them and in the end, that’s what it’s all about,” Lt. Blinn said.
If you would still like to help out the Fraternal Order of Police is accepting donations, you can contact them by calling (904) 398-7010.
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