TOLEDO, Ohio — Jeff Skelding has been going to the Orchard Inn Bar on West Sylvania Avenue for more than 40 years. He's seen the bar change a lot in that time.
"The people here are down to earth," Skelding said. "Simple, working-class. Nobody's better than anybody else when they come in here."
Jeff was out of town on July 4 when one of his fellow regulars, Mikey Hare, was smoking a cigarette on the sidewalk outside the bar when he was hit by a car, which quickly took off.
"Super nice guy," Skelding said. "Wouldn't harm a flea. Comes in, sits down, maybe has a couple beers. Maybe a shot or two. Obviously goes outside and has a cigarette now and then. Gets along with everybody."
Bartender Abbey Schrecongost said Hare is recovering in the hospital, and is expected to be okay. Schrecongost said Hare means a lot to the people at this neighborhood bar and when the hit-and-run happened, the Orchard Inn community got to work helping their friend.
"When you see someone every day, we're almost like family here," Schrecongost said. "We know about their lives, they know about ours. We would do it for any regular that this happened to."
Hare's favorite drink is Bud Light in a bottle. The bar is donating a portion of Bud Light bottle sales to support their friend. Schrecongost said it would mean a lot to have the community support him when he needs it most.
"Then he'll at least know people are out here supporting him," Schrecongost said. "Being in the hospital sucks. It's just nice to know people are rooting for you."
Orchard Inn is also accepting cash donations, which the bar will match. On Friday, Pizza Cat Toledo will be supplying the bar with pizzas. Orchard Inn will be accepting donations over the next several weeks.