LEXINGTON, Ky. — There’s a tasty new way in Lexington to help victims of Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina.

What You Need To Know

  • DV8 Kitchen is serving a Carolina BBQ Sandwich 

  • All sales proceeds from the sandwich support hurricane relief in North Carolina 

  • The sandwich has pork, BBQ sauce, fried okra and pickles 

  • So far at least $8,000 has been raised

Diane Perez owns the two Lexington locations of DV8 Kitchen with her husband. She said giving is at the heart of DV8 Kitchen’s mission. Their usual mission is giving a second chance and opportunity to people in recovery many other places may not hire. 

Now, the Lexington not-for-profit restaurant is giving back in a new way. They are serving a Carolina BBQ sandwich with 100% of proceeds going to Hebron Colony Ministries, a recovery center in Boone, North Carolina.

“This is what we were put here to do is help people in recovery,” Perez said. “I know it’s huge and we can’t fix it but somehow wanted to get involved and help.”

PJ Goodine has been working at DV8 Kitchen for almost two years. Most of his shifts he works in the kitchen.

“Best job I’ve ever had by far. I really love working here. I love what we do. I love what we stand for,” Goodine said.

Hurricane Helene ripped through western North Carolina the last week of September. It left behind flooding from at least 19 inches of rain.

“It’s amazing how vast the damage is there,” Perez said.

Perez and her husband were in North Carolina during the storm visiting their son in college for parent’s weekend.

“Roads were closing all around us. What is normally a five-hour trip took us 30 hours,” Perez said.

After seeing the widespread damage in an area near to their hearts, the Perezes put out a call to help and connected with Hebron Colony.

“We have merging streams that gather together on the corner of our property. We have 78 acres and part of it is bottomland, real fertile,” said Don Holder, executive director of Hebron Colony Ministries.

The ministry has been helping people in recovery for 77 years. Holder said they have clients from all across the U.S. Some of the shelter’s housing and some equipment destroyed by Helene.

“I’m eternally grateful [for the Perezes], I can promise you that. It is a tremendous blessing to us. But I’m not surprised how God operates,” Holder said.

Goodine said compassion is at the core of everything the Perezes and DV8 Kitchen stand for. Anytime he makes a Carolina BBQ sandwich, he says it feels great to know it’s helping a good cause.

“Getting outside of myself and doing something good for somebody else is also a big part of my recovery; giving back without expecting anything in return,” Goodine said.

Serving a meal with a side of compassion.

The sandwiches are $11 and so far, have raised at least $8,000.

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