MATLACHA, Fla. — Hurricane Ian devastated the island of Matlacha, but nothing could destroy the sense of community shared by the people that call it home.
It’s been almost a month since the Category 4 hurricane made landfall in Southwest Florida. Since that day, the people that make up Old Florida have been banding together and are still stronger than ever.
One man is spending his days standing on the side of the road, cooking up a hot meal for anyone who needs it.
“We’re just here doing what we can to help everybody,” said Bob “Williebob” DeClue.
Everyone on the island knows DeClue by his nickname, Williebob.
“For the Willie Nelson stuff,” he said, referring to his long hair and beard.
If you drive along Pine Island Road, crossing the newly repaired road, you’re destined to run into him. He spends his days manning the grill set up outside of his friend’s BBQ joint: That Barbecue Place. The restaurant is closed up, but Williebob’s grill is always cooking up something good.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Pine Island Road fully operational following week-long damage repairs
“We got people that need to be fed and I’m part of the community,” he said.
The keyword here is community. It means the world to Williebob and many others that call Matlacha home.
“It means that my friends are my friends. There’s only 650 of us that live here permanently in Matlacha. It’s what we do. We help each other.”
He’s not alone in providing free meals, it’s the community of Matlacha. Each morning he drains the donation jar and buys the day’s meal, which always ends with the word “bob.”
“Today’s taco Bob. Tomorrow I’ll be pasta, spaghetti Bob.”
After a full day and a lot of full bellies, the jar is full again, which means Williebob is back to the drawing board for tomorrow.
Gage: “So who chooses the menu here?”
Williebob: “Whatever I decide you’re gonna eat is what you get.”
It’s always something flavorful, always something home-cooked and always something sure to put a smile on your face.
With Billiebob and his crew, there’s no asking for donations. The only question asked is “how much” or “would you like another?”
“This is community. We want everybody to eat. We don’t care what language you speak, what color you are, what you’re doing here. You’re helping.”
It doesn’t matter if you’re going to get groceries, heading to help a friend or just passing by to Pine Island; just know there’s always good grub and good people on the way.
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