FIND OPTIMISM AND
HOPE BY IMMERSING
YOURSELF IN SERVICE
SUMMER 2019 15
Sand Dollar
STRONG
F acing down a challenge is nothing new for
Alex Neville and Chef Scott Warren. A little
over three years ago, this pair from Georgia
packed up, moved to Beacon Hill, and promptly
opened a restaurant in Port St. Joe. Clearly, they
are up for anything!
Last October, however, Hurricane Michael
blasted Florida’s Forgotten Coast, and left their
little community reeling. The category 5 storm
pounded the region with record winds and
storm surge. Devastation was widespread, with
critical infrastructure and resources damaged or
destroyed. For days, there was no power, water,
phone service or internet access. Recovery – for
Alex and Scott, their restaurant, and their entire
community – seemed a daunting task.
“Compared to many, we were lucky,” stated
Alex. “Somehow, we only had 2 or 3 feet of
water in the cafe. It came in quickly and left
just as fast.” Debris left behind by wind and
storm surge lay in piles around the building,
but damage to the restaurant itself was primarily
cosmetic. “We did lose kitchen equipment, but
we ordered replacements right away,” said Alex.
“We decided to do whatever it took to stay. We
weren’t going anywhere.”
The duo worked harder than they had ever
worked in their lives to re-open the Sand Dollar
Cafe. Displaced to Destin – a 7-hour trip each
way after the storm – they attacked the project
with abandon. By October 19th, they were
serving free coffee & danishes to linemen, first
responders and anyone needing a morning
boost. Then, on October 23, they received
shocking news – their business insurance didn’t
cover wind or flood. Stunned but determined,
Alex & Scott stayed positive. By days end,
friends had already organized a GoFundMe page
for them. Donations poured in. By November
BACK TO WORK
2nd, sooner than anyone expected, they were
cooking again, and they were fully operational
by November 12th. Small victories in the grand
scheme, to be certain, but the Sand Dollar Cafe
was a ray of light in the darkness – a tiny return
to normalcy for the residents of the battered
region. “We are so grateful,” said Scott. “The
outpouring of local support. The assistance of
friends and family. Without those, the doors
would still be closed.”
“Honestly, that generosity was our inspiration to
keep going,” remembers Alex. “Paying it forward
became our mission.” Fortunately, a hearty, hot
meal was exactly what folks needed in the wake
of the hurricane. Southern comfort food served
fast, the Sand Dollar’s signature, was just what
the doctor ordered. “We are blessed. Since the
storm, we’ve been busy every day,” said Alex.
“The sense of community – the unity – we know
that this is where we’re supposed to be.”
Alex & Scott agree, “As we move forward, the
local landscape will be different, but there are
great things on the horizon. We’d do it all over
again to end up here.” Forgotten Coast Strong.
THE SAND DOLLAR CAFE POST-STORM