Winn-Dixie Provides Free Ice To East Tampa Residents Affected By Hurricane Irma

TAMPA, FL - Finding ice has proven difficult for Tampa Bay residents left without electricity by Hurricane Irma. On Saturday morning, Winn-Dixie made 40,000 pounds of ice available to residents for free at stores in East Tampa, Thonotosassa and St. Petersburg. About 30 minutes before the ice giveaway, 25 people had lined up behind a refrigerated tractor-trailer truck in the Winn-Dixie parking lot on Martin Luther King Boulevard in Seminole Heights. Each resident received a 40-pound box of ice.

Several residents said they had been without power for days and expressed appreciation to Winn-Dixie for the box of ice, particularly since afternoon temperatures would reach the 90s. A woman in line before the giveaway started at 10 a.m. showed a reporter photos on her smartphone of the empty refrigerator in her house. She had only gotten her power restored Friday afternoon, she said.

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Stephanie Watson, who lives in Seminole Heights, was one of the local residents picking up a box of ice. The power at her home came on late Saturday after being out for five days. Her refrigerator is now bare.

“We had to throw out everything out,” she said. “Our refrigerator looks like its in a brand new apartment. I’m trying to get groceries back now.”

Watson said she had some minor flooding in her house as rainwater seeped under the front door. She used bed sheets to try and stop the water from coming in. She said she was thankful for Winn-Dixie’s generosity.

Some residents were disappointed to learn that the grocer would not be giving out water, too. On Friday, Winn-Dixie gave out two cases of 24-pack water along with ice at its St. Petersburg store, 1049 62nd Ave. N.

Pat Scott, who lives in Seminole Heights and got a free box of ice, said she had some trees down and some damage to the side of her home from Hurricane Irma. “I wasn’t prepared (for Irma) but I will be prepared next time, more than I am now.” She said she was thankful for the free ice.

Later, cars were lining up behind the refrigerated truck as Winn-Dixie workers helped residents load the ice in their vehicles. Winn-Dixie officials said 488 boxes of ice were available during the giveaway at the Seminole Heights store.

Photo: East Tampa residents wait behind a refrigerated truck at the Winn-Dixie store on Martin Luther King Boulevard in Seminole Heights to get a free 40-pound box of ice. Photo by Patch Editor Don Johnson.