Fundraiser at Bo Diddley Plaza to benefit Cedar Key businesses damaged by Hurricane Idalia
A strong personal connection to those in Cedar Key still reeling from the impacts of Hurricane Idalia on Aug. 30 has prompted one Gainesville resident to take action.
Matthew Brown, an AP literature teacher and the golf coach at Eastside High School, has spent his last few weeks organizing a fundraiser to help local businesses in the Levy County fishing village still closed due to the storm.
His motivation stems from almost two decades of making music and memories with his second family, Bryan and Darlene Skarupski, owners of the Market at Cedar Key, Liam & Madi’s and the Big Deck Raw Bar.
Brown said the Skarupskis gave him his first bar gig as a musician when he was just 13, and over the years have helped him with housing, instrument upgrades and supported him during his time in and our of the military. They even hosted his wedding last year for free.
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"They've done nothing but support me my entire life, and it's all I could do to try and repay the favor," Brown said of the fundraiser. "I put boots on the ground. We did it after we rebuilt after [Hurricane] Hermine seven years ago, and we're here doing it right now."
The fundraiser is Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bo Diddley Plaza, 111 E. University Ave., and includes live music, local vendors, food and drink, a 50/50 raffle and a silent auction.
Those scheduled to take the stage at Bo Diddley include Faster Than Flash, TJ Brown, Seth Dukes, Kerry Gordon & Goose Goodrich, Reggie Stacy and more.
The silent auction, which is available online through the event's Facebook page and at the event, runs through Sunday evening and includes items signed by former Florida head coach Steve Spurrier, a Sun Country gift basket valued at over $200, a two-hour bartending service, a two-night stay in a luxury RV rental, items from Swamp Head Brewery, and more.
The event is free to attend, but donations will be accepted. Brown said 100% of the event's proceeds will go directly toward rebuilding the businesses of Cedar Key.
That includes the Skarupskis' Market at Cedar Key, which remains closed and is the only grocery store within 35 miles of the island. Brown said it sustained more than $300,000 in damages.
"They don't know if it will ever reopen," he said.
The only hiccup in Brown's fundraising event is that the time coincides with the Gator football team's noon kickoff at Kentucky. He said he was disappointed when the game time was announced, and that in recent years it had been played at night. He remains hopeful, however, that the event will be a success.
"It's cool if you're going downtown to watch the game, stop in, hang out, catch a band for an hour," he said. "During halftime, if you're downtown, step out of your restaurant for a half hour and walk over to Bo Diddley, check out the items we have for auction."
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Gainesville fundraiser to benefit damaged Cedar Key businesses
