LaBelle residents host cookout to thank linemen

LABELLE, Fla. Linemen from across the nation have been working long hours to help restore power to Southwest Florida residents in the wake of Hurricane Irma.

To thank the linemen for their hard work and dedication, the town of LaBelle organized a buffet Thursday to feed more than 400 workers.

“These linemen, I mean people don’t even realize what they go through and they don’t even know us and it’s a blessing its the least we could do,” volunteer Sandra Wryals said.

LaBelle resident Candy Perez organized the cookout with local restaurants, volunteers and grocery stores.

“I’m here to show appreciation for these hard working men and women,” Perez said. “Leaving their family to do all of this for our community and I thought an appreciation with a dinner.”

Many of the linemen were humbled by the community’s act of kindness.

“In all of my time out here in the field, I have never seen a town put something together to feed all of the people that we have here today and I’m so thankful,” lineman David Elliot said.

The power is expected to be restored Friday in Southwest Florida with only a few exceptions.