Florida strip club serves hot meals for those who are affected of Hurricane Isaias: ‘It’s good to give back’

Not all heroes wear capes – some barely wear anything. In the aftermath of Hurricane Isaias, a Florida strip club is stepping up by serving free hot meals to anyone in need. The Pony on East Gregory Street in Pensacola has already dished out more than 400 dinners, according to ABC 3 News.

Dancers at the club say they wanted to give back to the community after the hurricane. They’ve served spaghetti with meat sauce, hamburgers, and Conecuh Sausage, all funded entirely by donations.

“We’re seeing all different types of people. We’re seeing single mothers. We’re seeing linemen, workers,” said Sarah Phillips from The Pony. “Really everybody in the community has come through — single dads, older people.”

The devastating effects of Hurricane Isaias

For Phillips, giving back to the community—especially during difficult times—matters most. “It’s good to give back,” she added. “And as much as the hurricane was a disaster, it brings the community together, and that’s what it’s about.”

Hurricane Isaias made landfall in Florida on October 9 as a Category 2 storm, bringing sustained winds of 105 mph. It was the first hurricane to hit the mainland U.S. in two years, after Hurricane Milton struck western Florida on October 9, 2024.

According to Gov. Ron DeSantis, the hurricane has caused at least six deaths. About 41,000 customers in the northwest Panhandle remain without power, according to poweroutage.com. As of October 15, state insurance officials report that 46,509 claims have been filed with insurance companies for residential, commercial, auto, and other losses, totaling nearly $582 million in damages.

DeSantis described the deaths as “post-storm: “It’s not just if the storm knocks over your house and somebody gets killed for that counts. They kind of link anything that’s even a fallout from the storm. … So, I would say those four are a little bit more post-storm, attenuated from the storm.”

The governor said he was “sad to hear” about the rising death toll but added, “At the same time, I mean, we’ve had some [storms] where there’ve been a lot more [deaths]. So, I think people did take precautions, and I think the local officials did a really good job of helping spread the word.”

Beside The Pony and other local volunteers, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have contributed $1 million in funding and in-kind donations to support relief efforts, providing hot meals, water, and mobile showers and laundry services.