TIFTON — A Unity Community Against Violence cookout will be held Saturday, Oct. 28, 10 a.m.—3 p.m. in front of Pennywise Food Store, located at 607 Short Street in Unionville.

Pennywise is owned by Jeta Patel, who was shot during an armed robbery on Aug 24.

She said that she was closing the store at around 8:45 p.m. when a man whose face was covered with bandanas entered the store demanding money.

“I gave him whatever money I had in my hand,” Patel said. “He said that it wasn’t enough and he shot me.”

Patel said that after the man shot her he jumped over the counter and tried to find more money while she was trying to stop the bleeding.

The bullet went up her bicep and under her arm, where it collapsed arteries and damaged nerves.

She still can’t use her left arm very well, but is hopeful that she will be able to use her arm again fully in four to six months.

The case is still being investigated by the Tift County Sheriff’s Office, but there just isn’t a lot to work with, according to Patel.

The man’s face was completely covered and there were no fingerprints able to be lifted.

Patel has said that the community has been very supportive of her after her ordeal. On the day of this interview, more than a month after the shooting, several people stopped by to ask how she was doing and make sure she was alright.

“The neighborhood all came to see me as soon as I reopened the store,” she said. “They were all mad that it happened.”

There was a protest against violence at the store a day later while Patel was in Macon having surgery.

“I think people are ready to take back our community,” said Commissioner Melissa Hughes, who represents District 2. “I am tired of hearing elderly people say that they go in their homes before the sun goes down because they’re afraid. We’re putting these people on notice and taking back our community.”

Both Patel and Hughes believe that the shooter was someone from outside the area.

The shooting happening right in the middle of the community really hit home for a lot of people in the area, Hughes said.

“I think that’s why they’re saying that it’s time to do something.”

Several years ago there was a push to form neighborhood watches, but that interest then wasn’t sustained.

Hughes said that when she heard about what happened to Patel, she knew something needed to be done.

“I thought the first step was in getting together, and what better way to get together than food,” she said, and so the idea for the Unity Community Cookout was born.

Hughes especially wants young people to participate.

“Whatever improvement is going to come is going to have to come from our young people,” she said, adding that most of the people who live near Pennywise are elderly and don’t have the energy to fight.

There will be representatives from different churches at the cookout as well as community organizations.

Hughes hopes that neighborhood watches are formed and participation is consistent.

Hughes said that she still needs donations for the cookout. Flint Equipment out of Albany will be supplying drinks, but she still needs hotdogs, hamburgers and buns.

Anyone wanting to donate or participate should contact Melissa Hughes at (229) 326-0241.