After a tornado ripped through The Ville neighborhood in north St. Louis on May 16, trucker Tony Stewart lost his home but stayed close by, living in his semi to look out for his community.
Why it matters: Instead of moving away, Tony took action. He teamed up with his friend Larry Gray to set up a daily cookout from his truck, grilling hot meals for neighbors left with nothing after the storm.
- They've been serving food for free to over 100 people each day, from noon until 10 p.m.
- The efforts are funded by donations of food and supplies, not cash. Stewart and Gray keep the grill going for anyone who needs help.
- Neighbors call Stewart the "neighborhood captain" for keeping watch over the block and helping folks protect what little they have left.
Between the lines: Stewart’s been sleeping in his truck for over 30 days now, still without power or a permanent place to stay. But he has no plans to leave until things are back to normal.
Grey shared, “If God puts it on your heart to donate, buy some hot dogs, or a pack of charcoal and drop it off. It doesn’t have to be much. Just enough to help us help others,” according to KSDK News.
Stewart and Gray say they’ll keep cooking and watching out for their neighbors as long as folks in the community need them.