From feeding people to fixing old cars, Elliott Middleton is driven to help those in need.
Middleton, who owns the Middleton & Maker Village BBQ restaurant, lives in McClellanville, South Carolina — a town where “everyone is there for everyone,” he said. Some of his supporters have suggested that Middleton be in the 2020 roast because of his roast skills. He participated — and came in first.
But instead of going home happily with the winnings, Middleton chose to donate half of the winnings to the town, hosting a Thanksgiving food drive for those in need. Middleton and volunteers distributed 250 meals to families, but when they were done, Middleton noticed that many people were still waiting outside in line for food. “Some people didn’t line up early because they didn’t have a vehicle,” he said. “They walked three or four miles just to get to the food truck.”
In that rural area, if you don’t have a car or live near public transportation, the closest places to get food are a small gas station and a Dollar General store. But for some, those places are at least 15 miles away, Middleton explained. “Walking to one of these facilities to shop is almost a half-day task,” he explained.
In addition to access to food, lack of transportation also affects employment opportunities. “You’ll never have the opportunity or opportunity to earn more than minimum wage because you don’t have a car,” Middleton said. “One car changed all that.”
Just then, a light bulb lit up in Middleton’s mind. He realized he could take old cars that were in need of repair and donate them to people in need. Thanks to his father, who was a mechanic and had an auto repair shop, Middleton knew his way with cars. “I’ve been in the store for as long as I’ve been able to walk or crawl,” Middleton said.
He said everything he did for the community was inspired by his father’s kindness to others. “If somebody comes in and they don’t have all the money to fix it, he’ll tell them, ‘Hey, just pay it on your payroll every once in a while,'” Middleton said. “That was something he probably couldn’t afford, but he did it because of his heart.”
Middleton started posting on social media, asking if anyone had any old cars that needed fixing, just sitting in their yards. If they could bring them, Middleton said, “I could trade it in for some grilled ribs.”
The first used car Middleton repaired was given to a mother who needed transportation to transport her disabled child to the hospital. “The young lady was terrified,” he said. “You don’t have to walk to and from the hospital in the rain.”
It develops from there. After Middleton started a nonprofit, the Middleton Village-to-Village Foundation, he started receiving more donations, totaling 800 of the wrecks. “It just gave me more energy,” he said. “I have the opportunity to own 800 cars and give away 800 feelings.”
Middleton’s father tragically passed away last year, but he continues to inspire Middleton. When working on a car, if Middleton had a problem, he thought his dad would tell him what to do. “It helps me deal with the fact that he’s not there,” he said.
When the repaired car is ready, Middleton said it’s all about finding “someone who’s trying to better themselves, try to keep working, and try to take care of their kids and everything. We want to bless them, we bless them with transportation.” They. Just knowing that this organization is responsible for it is the fuel to get out of bed every morning.”
For Middleton, helping others keeps him going. “It’s the best feeling in the world,” he said. “Nothing beats it”.
