CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- Some of Cleveland's poorest people get a little more nutrition each week because of Lee University students, many of whom live in far-off places.
On Saturday mornings, the students gather behind the Leonard Center on campus and load up their cars with fruits, vegetables, milk and sometimes meat, leaving room for friends to go along to help deliver the food.
The college seniors who are leaders for the food distribution program decide where each team goes. Then they scatter.
Some go to neighborhoods where people have come to expect the students on the street corner Saturday mornings. Others take food to people they already know.
"One lady we go to, Donna, she is a diabetic so we can't take any sweets to her. Joe only likes meat and milk. He doesn't like vegetables. Mabel only likes bananas and ice cream," said Amanda Downey as she and Tenisha Carey filled their grocery bags Saturday morning.
The food distribution is one of the service learning projects coordinated through the Leonard Center. Service is part of the university's program, and students need a certain number of service hours to graduate. Most Tennessee universities and colleges have launched service programs.
Local stores donate the food and ask for anonymity, sponsors said.
Aaron Basescu, one of the seniors who helps direct the food program, said he collects "400 to 500 pounds (a week), about 100 of that being meat."
The food is brought to the student food bank at the Leonard Center. From there the students pack their selections into bags and load their vehicles.
Then the students gather in circles with their teams and pray a blessing for the food and those who will receive it.
Team leaders also give out practical advice before they leave.
"Girls, always stay near the guys. ... If you see someone who is getting a lot of attention and somebody else is off in a corner by themselves, go talk to them. ... Invite people to come to our Thanksgiving dinner," Wes Starr reminds his group.
On one residential street, with boxes of food opened and a crowd gathered around her and other students, Emily McComb made the Thanksgiving invitations.
"Are you cooking?" one woman asked.
"Yes, I cooked turkeys," Miss McComb said.
Rachel Prather, of Atlanta; Jessica McBride of Logansport, Ind.; and Megan Jackson, of Lexington, Ky., were not sure of their destination Saturday. They and others ended up going to an apartment.
"I enjoy doing service projects and mission trips and such. So this is fun for me," Miss Prather said.
ON THE WEB
Learn more about the Leonard Center at www.leeuniversity.edu/leonard-center.
Randall Higgins covers news in Cleveland, Tenn., for the Times Free Press. He started work with the Chattanooga Times in 1977 and joined the staff of the Chattanooga Times Free Press when the Free Press and Times merged in 1999. Randall has covered Southeast Tennessee, Northwest Georgia and Alabama. He now covers Cleveland and Bradley County and the neighboring region. Randall is a Cleveland native. He has bachelor’s degree from Tennessee Technological University. His awards ...
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