Chick-fil-A, Publix and others donate to recovery efforts after Idalia

YANKEETOWN, Fla. (FLV) – Businesses are stepping up after Hurricane Idalia slammed into the Big Bend area last week.

The Category 3 storm destroyed homes and businesses as storm surge pummeled the region.

Publix, Walmart and Chick-fil-A are some of the businesses Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office said donated resources to workers and residents impacted.

The Florida mega-grocery chain donated more than 800 Publix subs to those in Yankeetown and Horseshoe Beach. Walmart donated food, water and cleaning supplies to Yankeetown.

“Recovering from hurricanes is a full community effort and that includes businesses like Publix, Walmart and Chick-fil-A,” DeSantis said. “We are grateful for their support as they send in truckloads of supplies, including Publix subs, into impacted areas like Yankeetown and Horseshoe Beach.”

FloridaCommerce began a “one-stop business resource center” in Horseshoe Beach after the storm. It helped allow for the coordination of business donations.

“Our private sector partners like Publix, Walmart and Chick-fil-A have been instrumental in helping these communities as they put the pieces back together following Hurricane Idalia,” Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly said.

“We will continue to engage our private sector partners and work with them to get resources into the communities that need it most. We thank everyone who has rallied behind Floridians of the Big Bend and donated their resources,” he said.