Reid beforehand owned a Snellville bistro and cafe that closed within the wake of the 2008 financial downturn. Greater than a decade later, he would launch Lettum Eat simply months earlier than the pandemic precipitated the following large-scale financial recession.
Hank and the Lettum Eat Volunteer cooks put together a whole bunch of meals each day within the kitchens of native church buildings. They pack and freeze every meal to make sure the meals is stored at secure temperatures throughout hour-long distributions.
Lettum Eat distributes meals to varied places in Gwinnett County through the week. Earlier than the Christmas season, the group delivered about 2,500 meals every week. It ended the 12 months with 80,000 meals distributed and expects to distribute between 150,000 and 175,000 meals by the tip of 2021, Reid mentioned.
January 29, 2021 Norcross – Woojin Kang and Vicki Tyler (left), volunteers from The Nett Church, assist patrons, who line as much as choose up meals and necessities that Chef Hank Reid and volunteers ready, within the car parking zone of The Nett Church in Norcross on Friday, January 29, 2021. Hank Reid has been driving a meals truck to deliver meals the place they’re wanted in Gwinnett County. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)
Credit score: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Credit score: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Greater than 80,000 individuals, or 9% of the county, had been estimated to be meals insecure in Gwinnett in 2018, in accordance with Feeding America’s Map the Meal Hole, an annual meals insecurity examine.
Woojin Kang, a member of Nett Church, distributes meals for Lettum Eat as a volunteer at his church each Friday. He obtained concerned as a option to give again because the pandemic continues.
“We’re in loopy instances proper now, and one thing we see is a number of new faces each week,” Kang mentioned. “That reveals how many individuals want this, and I feel there’s nothing that reveals love like some meals.”
Nonetheless, distributions couldn’t be made with out funding.
From federal funds as a part of the Coronavirus Reduction, Reduction and Financial Safety Act (CARES), the county awarded Lettum Eat a dollar-for-dollar rebate grant for any business-related bills.
The grant expired in December, which means Lettum Eat depends on donations, fundraisers, and catering occasions to pay for its bills, together with promoting meals from its meals truck to native faculty lecturers on Fridays. The nonprofit group has fostered partnerships with round 70 non-public and company donors, in addition to seven colleges.
After seeing the quantity of meals thrown out by eating places, Reid works in opposition to meals waste by sourcing meals from native farmers, eating places, meals producers, and anybody else who calls Lettum Eat providing a donation.
January 29, 2021 Norcross – Volunteer Janice Osborne holds up an indication on Jimmy Carter Blvd to draw consideration as Chef Hank Reid and volunteers ship ready-to-eat meals within the car parking zone of The Nett Church in Norcross on Friday, January 29 . 2021. Hank Reid has been driving a meals truck to deliver meals the place they’re wanted in Gwinnett County. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)
Credit score: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Credit score: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Williams Sims joined Lettum Eat early on after Reid introduced the concept to him. He now considers Reid a brother, hoping to work with him for the remainder of his life indirectly due to the Sims’ attraction to passionate individuals who “love what they do and know why they do it.”
Transferring ahead, the group plans to extend the variety of meals it distributes and discover new methods to lift cash, mentioned Sims, who serves as director of selling for Lettum Eat.
Reid needs to safe a everlasting constructing for Lettum Eat with a kitchen to arrange meals. Its present meals truck is the dimensions of a mail truck, and the group hopes to buy a meals truck with a working kitchen, Sims mentioned.
Operating Lettum Eat and feeding these in want comes naturally to Reid, he mentioned. Whether or not it is teaching sports activities, educating cooking courses or getting ready meals for others, Reid mentioned her calling is to assist others.
Reid obtained a proclamation of recognition for his nonprofit work from the Metropolis of Snellville in early January. “That meant so much to me, (that) after 20 years of making an attempt to determine how I can higher serve my group, I’ve discovered a means,” Reid mentioned.
Reflecting on his profession, Reid mentioned he was proud the primary time he noticed his identify lit up on the Candy Georgia Juke Joint marquee. However nothing in comparison with seeing his identify lit up on the marquee board for Wednesday night time meals at First Baptist Church in Snellville, he mentioned.
“I inform individuals on a regular basis that everybody is from someplace,” Reid mentioned. “I’m from Griffin, Georgia, and we’re proud. Our obligation as we develop is to get on the market and affect no matter group you end up in. My objective and obligation was to exit and have an effect on the world. I am imagined to be serving and serving to. “
MORE INFORMATION
For a weekly calendar of Lettum Eat meals distributions, go to https://lettumeat.com/.
