(West Des Moines, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa Restaurant Association, have announced, their 2024 Restaurant Neighbor Philanthropist Award Winner is Katie Huff, owner of the Tiger Drive-In, in Greenfield.

The award was presented to her for “Her steadfast dedication to Greenfield, both in crisis and in daily life,” in response to the devastating, May 2024 tornado that hit Greenfield, and claimed four lives. More than 150 homes and businesses were either heavily damaged or destroyed by the twister.

Restaurant Neighbor Philanthropist Award Winner: Katie Huff
Tiger Drive-In, Greenfield, Iowa

The Restaurant Association says while hundreds of volunteers eventually came to help, locals like Katie Huff, owner of the Tiger Drive-In, stepped up immediately to support the community. The 60-year-old Tiger Drive-In, a classic walk-up spot, survived with minimal damage despite an employee’s car being tossed against it. Recognizing the urgent need, Katie rallied her team to help. Without power, friends brought in generators, enabling her to serve hot and cold food.

Huff said “There were a lot of things I couldn’t do, but I could feed people.” She and her team handed out free ice cream, chili dogs, and sandwiches to volunteers, first responders, and residents. After news coverage, support poured in from across the country, enabling weeks of free meals.

“The angels appeared,” says Katie, “sending money from as far as Florida and Colorado to keep us going.”

Society Insurance sponsored the Iowa Restaurant Association’s 2024 Community Impact Awards.