A Lowcountry seafood institution was decimated. Here’s how you can help bring it back.

Charles Gay didn’t ask for help, and the customers of his longtime family seafood business made it clear this wasn’t a charity case.

But a group of local residents decided Gay Fish Company, which has operated on St. Helena Island more than 60 years, deserved to be saved after recent storm damage. And they are working on a plan to help the family with much-needed repairs.

Sissy Califf and her husband, Moe Phifer, were having a hamburger and beer with a local dock builder at the Fillin’ Station on Lady’s’ Island last fall when the topic of the seafood business came up.

They began forming a plan to raise money for materials to repair the Gay Fish market building and dock to the point the business can be safely operated.

“This isn’t charity,” Phifer recalled Califf saying. “This is a barn-raising.”

Phifer, who has worked at Grayco Building Center more than 30 years, said he has secured a good deal on lumber to be sold at cost.

The labor would be donated.

Charles Gay and his brother, Robert, had visited Grayco after Hurricane Matthew for 2x6s and 2x8s to patch the dock where they could. The high waters from Tropical Storm Irma in September and freezing weather last month erased those efforts, Charles said.

“It gets worse by the day,” he said.

Jasper County Sheriff’s Office deputies have offered to work on the business when they’re off duty, Charles said. And numerous other customers have offered to help.

Many of the dock pilings are still in place and structurally sound, but the walkway is gone. Repairing the walkway in front of the market building and about another 100 feet would give boats a safe places to tie up and unload, Charles said.

The business is currently closed while shrimp aren’t in season. Charles was at the hardware store Monday buying materials to fix water lines in the store damaged by the freeze in January.

Machines have to be restored, fresh paint applied and the building repaired to the point product can get in and out the door.

One conundrum with the planned repairs is this: the property is on the market. The Gay family listed the building, land and dock last year.

Charles, 73, and his siblings still plan to sell if the work is done and have told potential volunteers their intentions. They hope the property remains a working dock.

But if a buyer wants to come in and tear everything down and start over, “90 percent of the demolition is already done for you,” Charles said.

Volunteers are still moving forward in hopes of finishing work in time for shrimp season. A link to the online fundraiser will be distributed once the account is live.

Phifer has asked a local drone operator to take fresh video and photos of the property.

“I think once word gets out, the support will be overwhelming,” Phifer said.

This story was originally published February 19, 2018 at 4:03 PM with the headline "A Lowcountry seafood institution was decimated. Here’s how you can help bring it back.."