BANKS COUNTY, Ga. — “It was a total loss for me. I did not have insurance that will cover the fire,” said Tiny Town Restaurant owner Sherrie McQueen, reflecting on the blaze that gutted her beloved Homer diner early Monday morning.
The single mother of one says the restaurant was her only source of income. It also helped sustain staff who are now also out of work.
Like family
For McQueen, it isn’t just the loss of jobs and the building that she mourns, mere hours after the fire swept through her restaurant Monday morning; it’s the community that gathered at this spot once known as Nannybells.
“My customers were truly more like my family than just friends. It’s a very close community,” said McQueen.
Community fundraiser
Now faced with raising her autistic daughter without a steady income, McQueen is leaning on her expanded family community for help.
A customer has started a GoFundMe page to help her and her staff rebuild. “So that we can hopefully start over somewhere else,” McQueen said.
Connie Boring of Toccoa started the fundraiser. She hopes to raise at least $6,000 as a starting point, “To rebuild our Tiny Town Restaurant,” and to take care of those directly impacted by the fire.
The fundraiser encourages residents to show their support, noting, “We will miss Tiny Town, but we will still have the memories.” The fundraiser can be found at Support Sherrie and Team After Tiny Town Fire on GoFundMe.
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