A GoFundMe fundraiser set up to help the employees of The Turtle Shack after a severe fire Sunday night has raised over $24,000 in the first few days after being posted. The fundraiser, started by restaurant owner Daniel Niday, aims to help employees “pay their bills and expenses” while the restaurant is closed.
“We had a fire overnight at the Turtle Shack and will be out of business for the foreseeable future,” Niday said. “We are absolutely devastated for our employees and are asking for help from the community.” Fortunately for the employees and owners of the Turtle Shack, the Flagler Beach business community is among the most tight-knit in Flagler County.
Click Here to Donate to The Turtle Shack Employee GoFundMe
As of Thursday morning, 210 donors have made contributions to the fund, amounting to $24,810. Four donors gave $1,000 or more, and another six gave $500. No specific goal was set for the GoFundMe (its listed goal is $1, informally declaring no inherent aim), and Niday said all funds raised will be going straight to the employees.
“The Turtle Shack has always been more than just a restaurant,” the owners posted to Facebook in the aftermath of the fire. “It’s a family and a cherished part of this community. Our employees are the heart and soul of everything we do, and we’re committed to supporting them during this difficult time. We are humbly asking for your help to ensure they can pay their bills and meet their day-to-day needs while we work towards rebuilding.”
Also helping to keep the workers of The Turtle Shack afloat, the nearby Johnny D’s Beach Bar & Grill announced that on Monday, December 2nd they would be donating 20% of their sales to the fundraiser.
Great to hear that the community is willing to step up to help these employees out. I wish there was another way to make a donation to help. Because I do not do anything on the computer except post comments, send and answer emails and search for things. I NEVER give away any of my personal info for anything. No banking, no donations, no credit card info, etc.