Marco Patriots bringing food to the victims of the Kentucky tornado

A group of volunteers from Southwest Florida are headed out to a disaster zone. The Marco Patriots are on a mission to help communities in Kentucky after deadly tornadoes tore apart homes and communities over the weekend.

The confirmed death toll in the state is up to 74, but dozens are unaccounted for after the twisters leveled neighborhoods and a thriving business district.

The Marco Patriots’ tiny trailer fits a lot of stuff. they’re bringing the essentials so others can have basic necessities.

“Here you’re gonna see turkey fryers we use dual purpose to sanitize our equipment,” said Marco Patriots member Matthew Melican.

The group’s tiny trailer is on its way to Mayfield, Kentucky. The Marco Patriots are embarking on this 15-hour, 1,007 -mile journey all to help those impacted by the tornadoes.

Kerrie Wallace, with the Marco Patriots, said, “we can pop out 20 burgers every 15 minutes, so we’ll be feeding victims of the tornadoes, first responders.”

“We have a capacity to feed between 6,7,8 even 900 people here a day with this equipment,” said Melican.

The Marco Patriots run into disasters willingly. Each “Patriot” has their own reason why.

“Hurricane Irma, I lived here for Irma and stayed on the island. It’s very hard to see people who have lost everything. But to be able to give them hope, it’s the most rewarding feeling,” said Wallace.

For a Naples woman, this mission literally hits close to home. So much of the total devastation in Kentucky is heartbreaking to see. So much so that Susan Bathholf had to turn off the tv.

“It’s going to be real enough when I get there,” said Bartholf.

Just hours before the tornado hit, Bartholf was on her journey back to Naples from Kirksey, KY. She lived there for 13 years. “Everything was like green and soupy. It was really eerie,” she said.