Relatives launch fundraiser for grocery store owner

For 20 years, Harold "Lefty" Encarnacion has been a dynamic leader in the Columbus community, catering to the needs of Hispanic and Caribbean residents.

Now, the owner of Millie's International Market needs the community's support, his relatives said.

Physicians at St. Francis Hospital recently informed Encarnacion that he needs a liver transplant, said his wife, Millie. His sisters have started an online GoFundMe campaign to help with his medical expenses.

Encarnacion, 62, was released from the hospital Friday, but is still battling cirrhosis of the liver. His family says he's not a drinker, and they believe he developed the condition from taking Tylenol for back problems he's had for many years.

"Lefty isn't doing very well right now," Millie said, while serving customers at the grocery store. "He's in need of a transplant. We haven't gotten all the results as yet, but right now he's fighting a really bad bacterial infection.

"We're praying that he comes out of all this and things will get a little better for us."

The Encarnacions opened the grocery store and restaurant at 2035 S. Lumpkin Road after moving to Columbus 30 years ago and having to send money to New York for ethnic foods and seasonings. The store has also become a community center for the city's Hispanic community, providing space for Tri-cities Latino Festival planning meetings and the only Hispanic radio station in the city.

The radio station, UNIDOS 107.7 FM, closed down in December due to a lack of support from the community, according to its owner, Jim Martin, of PMB Broadcasting.

The couple recently announced that they are trying to sell the business because of a drop in sales and Encarnacion's declining health. Through social media, they have been trying to liquidate all the store merchandise, posting photos of items on Facebook. The photos include images of a ceiling fan, stove and a six-door refrigerator.

"Come on folks still got a lot to sell need your help," Encarnacion posted July 23. "25% discount on everything in store...I will give you 30% be here till about 2pm."

On Facebook, customers and friends have been posting prayers for Encarnacion and lamenting the store's closing.

In the meantime, Encarnacion's condition has only deteriorated, according to Millie. She said the couple is in no financial position to afford his medical treatment. Last week, they received an eviction notice from the store's landlord because they owe one and a half month's rent, she said.

Encarnacion's sister, Rebecca, recently moved from New York to Phenix City because she likes the area and wanted to help her brother during this difficult time. Encarnacion also has a sister, Yolanda, in California who launched the GoFundMe campaign on Aug. 1.

The campaign at www.gofundme.com/helplefty had raised $840 of the $500,000 goal as of Sunday. The web page had 323 shares and 14 donations.

Rebecca said the Encarnacions don't have insurance because the cost was too high. They thought they might be eligible for Medicaid then found out that the insurance wasn't accepting new applicants.

Encarnacion didn't ask for the GoFundMe campaign, she said. She and her sister just wanted to help.

"He's a Hispanic man, you know, you don't ask for handouts and that's all there is to it," she said. "My sister and I, we decided we needed to help him. If we pool our resources, hopefully, we'll get something to help, at least with his medical expenses."

Last week, shelves at the store were bare as customers ran into the store to stock up on their favorite items. Many of them were Jamaican-American residents, whom Millie described as her most loyal customers.

Latrice Beuford, the granddaughter of Jamaican immigrants, said she hates to see the store go out of business.

"If I knew earlier that they were closing, I would have been here to stock up on my seasonings," she said. "I just found out and I said, 'Oh, I've got to go over to Millie's to get my beef patties, my curry powder and my jerk seasonings.'"

David Reid, a 77-year-old Jamaican immigrant, said he's going to miss the Caribbean items like yams, green bananas and plantains. He prays Encarnacion gets well soon.

"Everybody's going to miss what goes on here," he said. "There is nowhere else in Columbus where you can get the stuff that you get here. You have to go all the way to Atlanta."

Alva James-Johnson, 706-571-8521. Reach her on Facebook at AlvaJamesJohnsonLedger.

This story was originally published August 9, 2015 at 8:25 PM with the headline "Relatives launch fundraiser for grocery store owner ."