Food is always a good thing
As we continue to look for the good during our COVID-19 experience, I am happy to see our careful progression toward a more normal life in Lawrence County. Again, thank you for your patience as we work through a situation like none of us have experienced.
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An extremely good – actually, great - event happened in Lawrenceburg last Friday. Prompted by calls to its office from people in need of food, WLX radio sponsored a drive that helped 1,100 residents whose income has been affected by the quarantine.
Donated cash was used to purchase products; individuals and businesses provided more items; and two truckloads of food came from Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee.
Volunteers assembled boxes, unloaded trucks, sorted donations, filled boxes and distributed food to residents who drove through the WLX parking lot. At one point the line of recipients was estimated at one mile long.
Thanks so much to the WLX family for bringing together the resources and people to address this need. Lawrence County is lucky to have many other community-minded businesses, and I urge you to support them.
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My hat is also off to the Lawrence County School System and everyone involved in the effort to feed children whose families are facing challenges. School Nutrition Supervisor Kindlyn Simpson reports 129,752 meals have been served since schools dismissed due to COVID-19.
Any child under 18 who arrives at one of five drive-through pickup points with their parent/guardian is eligible, whether they attend a local school or not. Meals are distributed on Mondays and Thursdays at Ingram Sowell, South Lawrence, Leoma, Ethridge and Summertown Elementary schools.
On Mondays, each child receives a hot lunch and kid-friendly components for two more lunches and three breakfasts. Thursday’s pickup includes four lunches (one hot) and four breakfasts. All is free of charge. How absolutely awesome!
Simpson says 35 cafeteria staff members committed to work through the entire period, and an “Adopt-A-Lunch Lady” program is getting the public involved in thanking them. Let me add my thanks to them and administrators, teachers and staff from all schools volunteering to man the actual distribution.
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The Tennessee Department of Health reported 17 Coronavirus cases in Lawrence County on Monday, with 15 recovered. We are concerned about our one new case, but testing of over 250 people over the last four days brought the number of negative results to 675.
I believe the gradual return to business in Lawrence County is a good plan. Please continue to follow social distancing measures and consider your responsibility for your own and others’ health.