ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — Local government officials and a restaurant are coming together to feed QVC Distribution Center workers for free after a fire ripped through the large facility early Saturday. 

 

What You Need To Know 

On Saturday, a large fire tore through the 1.2 million-square foot QVC Distribution Center in Rocky Mount, damaging most of the property 

Vincent Wiggins is the owner of Lillie Mae's Kitchen and is feeding QVC employees for free 

Twenty-one-year-old Kevon Ricks was killed in the blaze 

The cause of the fire remains under investigation 

 

Vincent Wiggins is the owner of Lillie Mae's Kitchen. He says QVC workers regularly come to his restaurant, and when he heard most of the center burned down he had to do something.

"I reached out to Shelly Willingham, TJ Walker — city councilman, Richard Joyner — city councilman and asked them to donate some food. They made some phone calls and got things done," Wiggins said.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday Wiggins is cooking up donated food for those who can prove they are QVC employees. He says the community has helped him grow his business since 2017, and now he wants to help them.

"It's devastating that something like this happened on this side of the holiday, so I was sitting on my coach and something said feed them," Wiggins said. "They're only going to get paid until the end of the year, and it's going to be hard on them, so I want to just give back." 

About 300 employees were at work just after 2 a.m. Saturday when the fire was reported, and about 75% of the 1.2 million-square-foot center was damaged by the blaze, officials said. The body of 21-year-old Kevon Ricks was identified as a worker who died, according to The Associated Press.  

Edgecombe County Sheriff's Office deputies remain outside of the QVC Distribution Center turning people around, as it is still an active investigation scene. Employees have been returning to try to see the building for themselves, but no one is being allowed back. 

Victoria Headlee, who has been working at QVC for a month, says she tried to stop by to pay respect to Ricks. 

"Everybody lost their jobs but the most thing is, someone lost their life," Headlee said. "What he had to go through in there alone was, I know that that had to be very hard for him, and I know that God was there beside him through it all."

The fire is still under investigation. Spectrum News 1 has reached out to Rocky Mount Fire and the Edgecombe County Manager's Office and have not heard any updates.