Hogbody’s hosts event to help fellow employee in need
Every day, Josh Snider would ride his bike from his home near Page Field to his job at Hogbody’s in North Fort Myers. Not an easy commute, to say the least, especially when you’ve done it for eight years.
What he’s gone through since October makes that commute seem like a walk in the park, as he has fought for his life pretty much since then.
On Sunday, his co-workers, friends and complete strangers showed up at Hogbody’s for a benefit thanks to the generosity of Jim’s Friends Helping Friends, an organization that helps people in North Fort Myers who are down on their luck through illness and other struggles.
The event featured more than 20 items put up for auction and a 50/50 raffle to raise money to help Snider’s family while he continues to recover in Tampa.
Jimmy Roberts, founder and president of Jim’s Friends Helping Friends, said he didn’t know about Snider until just before the holidays.
“I helped take care of his child and family for Christmas. After I delivered the food and toys I got to thinking about doing a benefit to help him out so they don’t lose everything they have,” said Roberts, who is a regular customer at the restaurant.
Snider, who has been a cook at Hogbody’s for 12 years, had an issue with his esophagus over the fall. They operated and stitched it up, but it became unstitched and contracted sepsis, an infection that can be fatal. He is recovering, but the person who has been taking care of Snider’s family said he doesn’t look like he’ll be able to come home until early spring.
People donated items such as remote control helicopters, pizza ovens and other items for Roberts to auction off. As usual, there were some Samaritans who donated the item back after winning it for it to be re-auctioned. There were also drive-by donations from people who couldn’t stay.
The hope was to raise $2,000.
Theresa Raker, manager at Hogbody’s, said Snider has been out of work since October, going back and forth for more surgeries.
“We had a small fundraiser here a couple months ago and Jim agreed to do another one,” Raker said. “He’s a hard worker and a good guy.”
Dave Drabik, also a part of Jimmy’s Friends helping Friends, said it’s important to help the local community.
“It’s the nature of what we do in North Fort Myers. We have a group of people who give and donate. It’s all great, but we want to make sure they have enough money to survive,” Drabik said.
Sherri Higginbotham, a friend of a friend with Roberts’ group, said many times, the benefits are for people they don’t know.
“We hope that one day if it happens to us we get the same respect, but we do it to be good hearted people,” Higginbotham said. “Besides, what else would I be doing on a Sunday except for staying home?”
Don Norris, general manager from Everglades Farm Equipment in Fort Myers, said he regularly helps the organization during their events.
“We try to give back to the community because the community is good to us,” Norris said, adding he knows Snider through his job. “We try to help support organizations for people who need help.”
Donations to assist the Snider family are still welcome. Checks, made to Jim’s Friends Helping Friends, may be mailed to: Jim’s Friends Helping Friends, 4700 Skates Circle, Fort Myers, 33905. For more information contact Jim Roberts, 239-872-5640.