As Hurricane Helene descended upon his hometown of Valdosta, Ga., Kenny Moore II was keeping tabs on his mom and sisters through their family group text. The Colts star cornerback had been in meetings and treatment at the team's facility most of the day, unaware of the impending devastation.
With his family spread across the state of Georgia, Moore's phone pinged with notifications, updating each other on their safety and the condition of their hometown.
"Them being worried makes me worried," Moore said. "You know, from far away, you can't be there to help anybody."
While he initially felt helpless hundreds of miles away, he soon realized the phone he was relying on for updates was a lifeline for his hometown community.
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Nick "Big Nick" Harden comes from what he describes as "humble beginnings." Growing up in Valdosta, his family shared a love of cooking, often finding ways to stretch their meals to feed a full household. When Big Nick's BBQ and Juke Joint opened its doors in 2015, Harden took pride in seeing his tables filled with those enjoying his family's shared passion.
"I just love to see people smile," Harden said. "And nothing makes people smile more than a good plate of food or some good music."
Moore and his family are among those to frequent Big Nick's. The 2021 Pro Bowler even has a permanent presence there, a blue No. 23 autographed Colts jersey hung prominently inside the restaurant. Moore's mom and his sisters in Valdosta are still regulars.
"They come to the restaurant weekly to get their meals," Harden said. "Their family is my family at this point, absolutely."
Colts teammate Zaire Franklin is among those who can attest to the draw of Big Nick's robust menu of brisket, wings and southern staples.
"He has the best barbecue in South Georgia," Franklin said. "I'm willing to stamp that. Best wings in the state."
Moore and Harden, both Valdosta State alums, have frequently partnered for community-focused events through Moore's Love One Foundation. Moore, the Colts 2021 Walter Payton Man of the Year Nominee, started seeing posts on Facebook documenting the destruction across Lowndes County. As soon as he learned nearly the entire Valdosta community was without power, he immediately texted Harden.
"I wanted to be active very fast, very quickly," Moore explained. "Every time something happens, the foundation connects with Big Nick's to be able to feed whoever is struggling. We made something happen within 20 minutes."
"Whenever we need him, he's right there. He steps up," Harden explained. "And we're so thankful for his giving spirit."
With financial support from Moore, and as soon as it was safe, Big Nick's kitchen fired up its grills to prepare their signature chopped chicken and pulled pork. Pots boiled to provide nourishing sides of rice and pasta and comforting starches like buttery mashed potatoes. On Saturday, a Facebook post from Big Nick's and Moore alerted struggling neighbors to their meal distribution on Baytree Road.
Less than 48 hours after the hurricane battered Valdosta, Moore and Harden had mobilized to pass out meals to their community.
"We put it on Facebook and we fed 200 people," Moore recalled. "Just having that type of help, having people that can be hands-on in such a little amount of time means everything."
Those hands included Moore's mom, Angela Carter, and several of his sisters, all of whom jumped in to pass out Harden's food to their fellow community members.
"They jumped in quickly," Harden said of Moore's family. "They've been instrumental in getting this food out and helping."
More than 2,000 homes endured severe damage as the hurricane pummeled Lowndes County. The community was on the path of a direct hit that ravaged parts of Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. The category four storm took the lives of more than 230 people across the southeast. Hurricane Helene became the deadliest to make landfall since Hurricane Katrina mercilessly destroyed parts of Louisiana and Mississippi in 2005.
In Moore's home state of Georgia, more than half a million residents were reported to be without power. For the city of Valdosta, more than 90 percent of residents lacked electricity following the storm. The city itself was brought to a halt, lacking power and running water. Streets were left abandoned and dark. The backyards usually filled with playing children and neighborhood gatherings were replaced with fallen trees, ravaged roofs and shards of debris ripped from structures across the city.
Moore's childhood home was among those that endured the brunt of the storm's brute force. The towering trees that surrounded the family house were toppled by Helene's powerful winds. Moore says the sight made his mom emotional with the yard no longer surrounded by the trees that Moore and his six sisters played under as kids.
"I know what that feels like when your community is going through something but you have to handle your task at hand," Franklin, the Colts' 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee, said of Moore. "I know his mom and sisters are very hands on so shout out to them for being able to have his back, help him extend the hand, and help the community he loves so much while he's here in Indianapolis."
Big Nick's team and the Love One Foundation identified key areas across the community, setting up in different locations such as churches and large parking lots to help accommodate the demand. When Milwaukee Brewers pitcher DL Hall, a Valdosta native and friend of Moore's, learned of their efforts, he eagerly added financial support and shared in spreading the word.
And as word spread that Big Nick's was cooking up its signature fare for the community, Harden said plenty of neighbors were so eager for a hot meal they sat on the sidewalks and curbs, balancing plastic containers on their knees while enjoying a brief respite from the destruction surrounding them.
As the days went on without power, not only did the need in Valdosta grow, so did the attention on Harden and Moore's efforts. Harden said in recent days they've also partnered with the Red Cross, allowing them to deliver meals to senior care facilities. Harden estimates within a week, 13,000 free meals have been distributed or delivered.
"We're stretching what we've got, and we're making it happen," Harden said.
Those same skills he learned from his parents in that crowded kitchen growing up – maximizing their groceries with casseroles and pastas to feed a table full of siblings and cousins – would equip him to handle an unforeseen demand. Now into a second week of feeding Valdosta families, Harden's menu for meal distribution this week includes hearty dishes like chicken alfredo and shepherd's pie.
"I'm so thankful for my staff right now," Harden said, admittedly getting choked up at the thought. "It's unbelievable. They've been working tirelessly. To fill these plates and fill this void in the community, it's a blessing."
During the limited down time he gets during an NFL game week, Moore occasionally opens his phone, scrolling Facebook, flooded with responses of gratitude. Harden said Valdosta views Moore as its proudest son, and Moore – even from hundreds of miles away – gives the love right back to his hometown.
"We've been through so much as a community, as a city, and I think I just try my best to bring people together as much as possible," Moore said. "Through the storm, it really did bring a lot of people together. Everybody really joined hands and the love that they showed me, I'm blessed to be a blessing."
