A fire late Sunday at the rear of Deb’s Catering and The Giving Plate in Altamont heavily damaged the building.
A mainstay for Altamont and surrounding communities, Deb’s Catering provides food for about 1,000 people per day, five days a week, through Meals on Wheels, six Head Start programs, and six day care centers. It also caters weddings and other events.
“The elderly – that’s who we feel the worst for,” said Al Schultz, who has co-owned the business with his wife, Deb Schultz, for 37 years. “A lot of people depend on us for a meal once a day.”
They moved into the building on Do-It Drive eight years ago. Their daughter, Tiffany Wasson, operates The Giving Plate out of the same building. It provides families with frozen meals. It also donates meals to families in need.
With the help of her parents, Wasson co-founded The Giving Plate with Tiffany Dunaway, who died of breast cancer in 2022.
Al Schultz said the fire appears to have started at about 11 p.m. Sunday.
“In the back where we get our deliveries in; that room,” he said. “We’re still waiting on the fire marshal to maybe give us an answer. We’d love to hear an answer.
“Wednesday the insurance adjuster’s coming. We think maybe the front part can be salvaged. But, I don’t know. There’s a lot of water damage. They poured a lot of water on her.
“Nobody was hurt. Nobody was there. I wish I had been there. Maybe I could have gotten to it a little bit quicker.”
He’s grateful for the outpouring of support the family has already received.
“The phone doesn’t stop ringing,” he said. “People want to help. But nobody can do anything – unless somebody’s got a big, giant kitchen sitting around doing nothing. We have the largest commercial kitchen in Effingham County.”
Schultz said refunds will be given to customers who have placed orders.