Georgia Man Holds Cookout for Florida Evacuees Near Highway: 'It Was Beautiful'
Along with his local community, he fed about 2,000 people.
A Georgia man and several volunteers held a large cookout for Florida evacuees on Saturday.
Chad Harrison, who lives in Valdosta, Ga., said he was watching a lot of negative news about Florida residents being stuck on the main highway, I-75, while trying to flee the state ahead of Hurricane Irma, and he wanted to do something to help.
Read: Some Miami Residents Staying Put, and Braving Hurricane Irma in Concrete-Encased Garage
He decided to ask a couple of co-workers at the auto body shop where he works to chip in and help, but once word spread of their efforts, donations began to pour in.
“It’s a huge storm," Harrison told InsideEdition.com. "Being from the south, it’s something that we felt like we needed to do. We just take care of our neighbors."
Harrison and other volunteers gathered by the highway and began grilling for anyone who wanted to stop by and eat.
With signs that read, “Free Food For Evacuees,” Harrison and the community were able to feed about 2,000 people. They also filled up several evacuees’ gas tanks.
“It was beautiful,” Harrison said. “I cooked meals. I filled up gas. I filled in where it needed to be, everyone did."
He said the response to the community’s gesture has been great and people were really thankful.
“People had tears of joy,” Harrison said. “It’s just hard to describe when you see a child who has nothing and all of a sudden, they have to get on the road and run from a Category 5 hurricane. You can imagine the stress level of the parents. They were blessed.”
After Irma’s forecasted path shifted Sunday, a hurricane warning was in effect for Valdosta, which is located right on the Georgia-Florida border.
Watch: Honeymooning Newlyweds Are Stuck Riding Out Hurricane Irma in Bathroom
Trending on Inside Edition

Discovery of Suzanne Morphew Remains 3 Years After Mom Went Missing Reignites Police Investigation
Crime
Meth-Fueled Murderer Taylor Schabusiness Wears Spit Hood as She Is Sentenced to Life in Prison Without Parole
Crime
Peeping Tom Arrested Again for Watching Woman Change in Dressing Room: Cops
Investigative
There Have Been 16 Shootings at High School Football Games This School Year. It Is Still September.
Human Interest
Bones, Pottery, Among Other Items Pulled by Mudlarks From London’s River Thames
Human Interest
How This Maine Firefighter Put His Life Back Together After Traumatic Fall
INSIDE EDITION InDepth
Ohio Man, 24, Shoots Grandparents Who Gave Him Place to Live as They Watched TV, Killing Granddad, Say Police
Crime
Video of Topless High School Student Shared by Her Principal and Made Into Meme by Asst. Principal: Lawsuit
Crime
Oregon Mom Wanted Her Boyfriend to Come Over So She Filmed Herself Waterboarding Their Infant Son, Say Cops
Crime