The Fish Shack in Columbus has a different menu on Christmas
WCBI had a chance to chat with the owner of the Fish Shack and also the people who were directly impacted by the restaurant's generosity
COLUMBUS, Miss. – On Christmas, The Fish Shack in Columbus, is doing what they do every day- except one thing – feeding over 100 people for free.
Nikita Rupert is the owner of The Fish Shack in the Friendly City.
“I felt there was a need,” Rupert said. “This year has been tough for everyone, so I just decided to give back.”
She says her way of serving the community is through food and the smiles she receives in return make the hard work worth it.
“It started with my grandmother back in 1998,” Rupert said. “We opened up one in West Point, then we had a bunch of customers always coming and she was like, you wanna open up one in Columbus. So I was like yeah. So here we are. I like to see it, putting a smile on their face. They come in. They’re happy. That’s just, that’s what I do.”
Two family members in line to grab a plate share a unique story.
Betty Joe Nichols had been sleeping on the streets of Columbus until she received a gift she says was the greatest of them all.
“I had nowhere to go, nowhere to stay,” Nichols said. “She found me. My sister brought me home and told me that I could come stay with her until I can get a place that’s my own. And that’s the best Christmas gift you could ever get from being on the streets.”
Melissa Hardon is Betty Joe’s sister.
She says the Fish Shack is special.
“I picked this place because it’s a special place for today,” Hardon said. “People are doing good for the people that are needing food.”
