Burgers in Chokoloskee

St. Mark’s served lunch in Chokoloskee at the Church of God. And the people came, all of them walking. Some had seen the hand-made signs, Hamburgers, Free Food. Others smelled the burgers cooking and came. All were thankful for the gift of food. One man said he wasn’t sure where he was going to get lunch today. Another,

Carlos, owner of Cafe Havana, came for a burger.

He couldn’t cook in his cafe yet.

Some evacuated when

Irma made landfall; others stayed in Chokoloskee. All had water in their homes and businesses from five or more feet of storm surge. All have lost everything. And all are wrestling with the local, state and national agencies they need to help them crawl out from under the debris in Irma’s wake.

Despite all they have lost, they all have maintained their basic human dignity. And they all are working hard, knowing they will get through this. A hamburger seems a small gesture offered into their tragedy. But, every person said, “Thanks for thinking of us.”