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Six-year-old boy spends money he saved for Disney World on food for Hurricane Dorian evacuees

Jermaine Bell, of Allendale, S.C., wanted people who had been forced from their homes to ‘enjoy the ride to the place they’re gonna stay at.'
 
Jermaine Bell, 6, of Allendale, S.C., used the money he had been saving for Disney World to buy food for Hurricane Dorian evacuees.
Jermaine Bell, 6, of Allendale, S.C., used the money he had been saving for Disney World to buy food for Hurricane Dorian evacuees. [ YouTube/WJBF ]
Published Sept. 4, 2019|Updated Sept. 4, 2019

It is one of the most heartwarming stories you’ll hear this hurricane season.

A 6-year-old boy from Allendale, S.C., used the money he had been saving for Disney World to buy food and drinks for people evacuating in advance of Hurricane Dorian.

Jermaine Bell purchased hot dogs, chips and water and distributed them to residents fleeing the South Carolina coast, according to WJBF-TV in Augusta, Ga.

“The people that are traveling to go to other places, I wanted them to have some food to eat,” Jermaine told WJBF’s Autumn Johnson, “so they can enjoy the ride to the place they’re gonna stay at.”

Jermaine created signs that read, “Dorian Evacuees, FREE Hot Dogs & Water,” and placed them along Highway 125 in Allendale, so evacuees could see them easily.

With the help of his grandmother, Aretha Grant, Jeremaine passed out food to nearly 100 evacuees, according to the TV report.

Jermaine even took time to pray with a family that their home would be okay by the time they returned, his grandmother said.

“That was really tear-dropping,” Grant said.

Grant said it is important for her grandson to understand how fortunate he is.

“Knowing that (the evacuees) couldn’t take everything and we were able to have a house," Grant said, "that’s the best part, that he should be thankful for.”

Jermaine, who turns 7 on Sunday, still plans to celebrate his birthday once Dorian has passed — " Go to Animal Kingdom, and see lots of lions and have a Lion King party,” he said.

But first, he had other priorities.

“I wanted to be generous," he said, “and live to give.”

2019 Tampa Bay Times Hurricane Guide

HURRICANE SEASON IS HERE: Get ready and stay informed at tampabay.com/hurricane

PREPARE YOUR STUFF: Get your documents and your data ready for a storm

BUILD YOUR KIT: The stuff you’ll need to stay safe — and comfortable — for the storm

PROTECT YOUR PETS: Your pets can’t get ready for a storm. That’s your job

NEED TO KNOW: Click here to find your evacuation zone and shelter

What Michael taught the Panhandle and Tampa Bay

What the Panhandle’s top emergency officials learned from Michael

‘We’re not going to give up.’ What a school superintendent learned from Michael

What Tampa Bay school leaders fear most from a storm

Tampa Bay’s top cops fear for those who stay behind