It's a sure bet that, if you live in Mobile, you've been to, or enjoyed something from Toomey’s.
For decades, Toomey's Mardi Gras store has allowed us to let the good times roll.
Now they're hoping to touch people who are having, quite possibly, one of the most difficult times in their lives.
"I mean, can you imagine waking up and you have nothing left?,” says Stephen Toomey. “I mean nothing?"
Stephen saw the devastation on television, and something clicked. What clicked was Stephen Toomey's sense of humanity, as he saw the video of what was left of communities like Rolling Fork, Mississippi...all but erased by an EF4 tornado.
That's why Stephen called friends at Wright Transportation. He wanted a truck and trailer.
A big one.
And he wants to fill it up with things tornado survivors need.
"I'm thinking like grills and charcoal, you know,” he says. “They have to eat."
Also among the items on his list-
"Hygiene products, razors, tooth brushes, toothpaste-"
It's a big challenge, because the trailer is 54 feet long and can hold 20 pallets of goods.
But Stephen says we can fill it... not once, but twice!
"I reckon we can!”, he says, enthusiastically. “We're waiting for the Mardi Gras community as well as the caring people of Mobile to show our greatness."
Toomey's is already loading up boxes of MoonPies, peanuts and even misprinted plastic cups, things he already had on hand.
"Mobile bay Paper Company, they're donating toilet paper and paper plates,” says Stephen. “Cash and Carry's gonna donate. People are really standing up."
And now it's your turn to give, if you can.
We may not be able to let the good times roll in Mississippi right now.
But we can make these trying times a little bit better.
You can drop off your donations at Toomey's on Government Monday through Friday from 10 until 5 and Saturday from 10 until 3.
They'll deliver the first load of goods just as soon as the trailer is filled.