In the early hours of this morning, my life and the lives of my staff changed forever. Around 3:00 a.m., I got a call from my daughter, who is a paramedic at a local fire station. Her chief had called her to say that my restaurant, Wild N Out Market and Cafe, was on fire. I rushed to 1270 Columbia Drive in Decatur, Georgia, but by the time I arrived, the business I poured my heart and soul into was gone.

This fire has left me and my staff along with the owners (Demaral Beasley, Bruce Woodard and Silvia Zicarelli) with nothing to fall back on. It's the end of the month, and we all have rent due, utilities to pay, and families to feed. Over the years, we've spent everything we had to keep this business afloat. Now, with no savings left and our livelihoods tied to the restaurant, we are heartbroken and unsure of what comes next. My greatest concern is for ownership, management and the staff and our families, who have nothing to fall back on in this moment of crisis.

Anything the community can do to help will be greatly appreciated, even if it's just one dollar. We have lost everything, and every donation will be evenly distributed to help each of us make ends meet until we can figure out our next steps. Thank you for reading our story and for any support you can offer during this incredibly difficult time.