Hurricane Relief Brings Much-Needed Joy in Key West

November 28, 2017, KEY WEST——Just before Thanksgiving, members of the Key West Fire Department were recipients of an unexpected treat. Each firefighter that stayed during Hurricane Irma was treated with a gift certificate to The Flaming Buoy restaurant. Thirty-six members of the Fire Department will enjoy a little extra holiday cheer this year, in appreciation of their selflessness. 

 

The idea was the brainchild of Sara Shapiro-Plevan and Rabbi William Plevan of New York City, and Stephanie Goldberg-Glazer, of Key West. “As frequent visitors, Key West holds a special place in our hearts, and we had to help, even from afar,” says Shapiro-Plevan. 

 

In the immediate aftermath of the storm, while everyone was eager to provide support, they were determined to find an out-of-the-box solution. “We want to reward first responders, while at the same time help locally owned businesses get back to normal,” says Goldberg-Glazer. This grassroots effort truly focused on the local community, while receiving donations from Miami and New York.  Donations were collected to purchase gift certificates from The Flaming Buoy, a locally-owned business that also provides a discount to first responders on an ongoing basis.

 

Scot Forste and Fred Isch, co-owners of The Flaming Buoy, located at 1100 Packer Street, in Key West, were onboard immediately, and added to the value of each gift certificate purchased. “When Stephanie told us about the idea of rewarding first responders, doing something nice and unexpected, we loved the idea,” says Forste. “Our restaurant is truly a community place. We are located off the beaten path, and many of our customers are locals,” he added. 

 

“To be able to simply say ‘thank you’ in a tangible way, at Thanksgiving, is especially meaningful,” says Goldberg-Glazer.