LINCOLNTON, N.C. — A Lincolnton ice cream shop is receiving public praise after traveling to Panama City Beach hours after Hurricane Michael ripped through the area to serve those impacted by the storm.
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Downtown Dairy Treats owner and retired veteran Chad Scott said his business was called to the Florida Panhandle after serving first responders during Hurricane Florence.
"We do this on behalf of Lincolnton because Lincolnton is a city of doers," said Scott in a Facebook post.
Scott said it costs the business about $1,000 a day to travel to impacted areas and provide ice cream and meals to displaced people and first responders.
Scott documented his trip to Florida on Facebook, and people from all over sent well wishes and gratitude for his team's service.
"It’s worse than you can imagine. Pitch black at night, curfews, long lines for food and desperate people. I couldn’t be happier to be here to serve on behalf of North Carolina," read one post on the Downtown Dairy Treats Facebook page.
The business owner set up camp in a Panama City Beach parking lot, and dozens of volunteers mobilized to help with the relief efforts.
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In one post, Scott said they prepared 500 meals in a couple hours and had given out 4,500 ice cream treats over the course of a few days.
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