Gaston County restaurants vow to help injured officers

Police officers serve residents and the businesses within a community with protection. After two Gastonia Police officers were shot Thursday night, two Gaston County restaurant owners said it’s their turn to give back.

The owners of Webb Custom Kitchen in Gastonia and Sammy’s Neighborhood Pub in Belmont agreed to donate $5 to the officers injured in a recent Gastonia shooting for every special sold on Wednesday.

Gastonia Police Sgt. C.E. Nelson and Officer M.A. Lewis were two of six people shot while they were attempting to break up a brawl at Remedies nightclub on Union Road in Gastonia. The officers were off-duty and working security for the bar when they were shot Thursday night.

John Bailey, a North Carolina Air National Guard veteran who owns Sammy’s Neighborhood Pub in Belmont, has always supported law enforcement through various fundraisers at his restaurant. When he heard about the two officers, he couldn’t sit back and wait for someone else to help them.

“First responders have a special place in our hearts with most of the staff at Sammy’s,” Bailey said. “When we saw this, knowing that those officers were off-duty and that they were probably doing that to make some extra money to help make ends meet… the families probably need some help.”

On Friday, Bailey called Jim Morasso, owner of Webb Custom Kitchen in Gastonia, and the two restaurateurs vowed to donate $5 for every special sold on Wednesday to the officers through Gastonia Police Foundation – a nonprofit that raises money to provide officers with supplemental funding through various avenues.

Sammy’s in Belmont was overwhelmed by customers when it raised funds after a Mount Holly family was killed in a car crash on Interstate 485. With COVID-19 capacity restrictions in mind, Bailey encourages Sammy’s patrons to consider dropping of their donations between now and Thursday, rather than dining in Wednesday.

“We don’t care if it’s $1 or $1,000; we will take good care of it like it’s our own money and we will make sure it gets to the right people so those families benefit from each donation,” Bailey said.

Bailey also noted that Sammy’s in Dallas isn’t participating in the fundraiser, as the restaurant is still adjusting after opening in October.

Webb Custom Kitchen customers can also drop off donations between now and Thursday.

Though details are still being ironed out, Wednesday’s specials will be a black and bleu steak and a cocktail made with a special blend of Maker’s Mark bourbon, named “FUSE Unity Blend.”

For Morasso, it’s simple.

“We need to support our officers when they’re in trouble. They support us when we’re in trouble,” he said.

You can reach Gavin Stewart at 704-869-1819 or on Twitter @GavinGazette.