Since opening its doors in late January, the Washington Zaxby’s has been helping the community it calls home.

Licensee Ryan Tittle, along with Jonathan Rose, Zaxby’s store manager, have done what they can to help the City of Washington. Rose, who is from Washington, said he loves his home and has been allowed to help when the store is called upon.

“We’re new to the community, and we want people to realize we’re not just a corporate restaurant,” Rose said. “We’re privately owned, and a lot of the people that work here are from the community, and we want people to know we are here for them.”

Through the Salvation Army and American Red Cross, Tittle and Rose donated Zaxby’s chicken to victims of the April 25 tornado.

At the end of June, the owners of the chicken restaurant teamed up with Washington native Terrance Copper to help donate $2,500 to the Beaufort County Tornado Relief Fund.

“We don’t want anything in return for it, we just want the community to know we care and we’re different,” Rose said. “We have gotten nothing but great support from the community since we have been here.”

Rose said Tittle is a very giving person and always wants to find ways to help the community.

Disaster relief isn’t all that Zaxby’s has done for the community. They have also helped sponsor community events and gave free meals to the children participating at Pros Weekend. That event was a chance for professional athletes to give back to the community — like Zaxby’s has done since January.

Rose said Zaxby’s was scheduled to sponsor a children’s play area at the Fourth of July Celebration in downtown Washington, but Hurricane Arthur cancelled those events.

“We’re still looking for the best time to host that,” said Beth Byrd, Washington Harbor District Alliance director.

Organizers are weighing whether to reschedule the event, possibly at Smoke on the Water or this year’s Christmas celebration.

During National Night Out on Aug. 5, Rose said Zaxby’s will sponsor a wing-eating contest.

“We’re here to get involved anywhere we can,” Rose said. “That’s one of the major things we want to do because we do care about the community and appreciate everybody coming out and supporting us.”