Mississippi native and former Barstool Sports personality Ben Mintz has delivered a $20,000 donation to Chuck’s Dairy Bar in Rolling Fork.
The donation to the small town’s staple restaurant, which was completely destroyed by an EF-4 tornado on March 24, was made on behalf of Mintz’s new employer, Brick Watch Company, which is owned by Barstool founder Dave Portnoy.
“We’ve been following this. My family is from 20 miles from here. We know all about what’s happened since the tornado,” Mintz told Chuck’s Dairy Bar owner Tracy Harden. “Your spirit and the way you’ve fought this, you’ve kept an upbeat attitude — I can’t even imagine the stuff you’re dealing with — having to reopen, and now operating out of a tent five days a week.”
ANNOUNCEMINTZ
The 1st @BrickWatchCo Grant for $20,000 is awarded to Chuck’s Dairy Bar in Rolling Fork, Mississippi!
Chuck’s was destroyed by a tornado in March & has been part of the Delta since 1960s. @stoolpresidente & I admire Tracy Hollins Harden’s community service. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/iLuSPYCCzI
— Mintzy (@BrickUpMintzy) July 23, 2023
Chuck’s Dairy Bar was at the forefront of the crisis that left 25 dead and hundreds of buildings demolished when Good Morning America visited the Mississippi community one month after the storm left portions of the state in ruins.
As the tornado worked its way toward the city, Harden, who was doing payroll inside the restaurant, instinctively rushed employees as well as herself and her husband into the standing cooler for safety. Upon exiting the cooler, it was discovered that Chuck’s no longer had a roof.
Harden, devastated that she had no ability to do what she loves most — provide food for people in her community — received a call the following day. A man offered the respected restauranteur his food trailer free of charge, which prompted Harden to open a mobile version of Chuck’s Dairy Bar right then and there.
The restaurant owner and her team have since been operating out of the food trailer and have continued to feed people in Rolling Fork.
“I never want it to be about me,” Harden said. “It’s going to help me so much to get back and to be able to continue to do what I love.”
Chuck’s Dairy Bar is in the process of having a new building constructed.
The donation to the restaurant is the first of many Brick Watch Company plans to give to businesses in the U.S. that have had to overcome obstacles, such as natural disasters.
