S

Approximately 200 Tullahoma residents, many with young children in tow, gathered in the Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital cafeteria Christmas morning with a servant’s heart and a mission. Their mission? Assemble 906 plates of food with either ham or turkey, green beans, potatoes and roll and do it in one hour.

Downstairs in the hospital’s Private Dining Room, volunteers were sorting hundreds of donated desserts, many homemade and others store bought. Still other desserts were donated by Westside Church of the Nazarene, Walmart, Publix, Chik-fil-A, Kroger, the Henry Center and Food Lion.

Preparations had started two weeks prior when long time organizers of the free Christmas meals, Lane and Evelyn Curlee, contacted the hospital’s dietary department and asked if they could prepare 700 meals. They agreed.

Prior to the assembly of the meals, Lane Curlee shared this message with the volunteers.

“All of us in this room have been blessed in so many ways. It does not mean we have not had our share of challenges along the way but we have all been extremely blessed. One of our greatest blessings is that we live in America. But even in America and even in Tullahoma there are families that are struggling. Perhaps illness, death, financial difficulties, domestic issues, drug abuse and other challenges.”

Curlee noted that over 400 families had requested a meal. “405 families in Tullahoma reached out to us this week and said they would appreciate a meal for their family on Christmas. And that is the group we are getting ready to serve today.”

Curlee added that the encouragement and personal interaction are often as important as the meals themselves.

“Please know that whether you are helping assemble the meals or deliver the meals, you are giving hope and encouragement to a special group of people that need hope and encouragement on this special day.”

“183 of these meals are going to single family households. That is typically an elderly single man or woman that often will not have any visitors or calls today. Think about that. The meal you are preparing or delivering will be very special to that elderly individual.”

Curlee said there are many to thank for making the Christmas meal possible. “So I say thank you for giving up part of your Christmas to serve others. You have stepped up and offered your time, energy, gift of cooking desserts, financial resources to those less fortunate in Tullahoma. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

“Another group I want to thank is the dietary team at Morrison Food Service at the hospital. About 15 employees gave up a big part of their Christmas Eve and Christmas Day working hard to prepare these meals.”

“Two weeks ago I told the dietary team we needed 700 meals. Two days later I called and requested an additional 50 meals. “No problem sir, we’ll get it done.” A week later I called and requested an additional 100 meals. “No problem sir, we’ll get it done.” Two days ago I requested an additional 56 meals. No hesitation, “No problem sir, we’ll get it done.” Of course it was a problem, they were just too nice and professional to complain.”

“Another thanks to the hospital administrator, Rich Ellis, for allowing us to use this facility.”

Once the volunteers finished assembling the 906 meals, 60 teams of volunteers picked up their meals and desserts and fanned out across Tullahoma delivering hope and encouragement via a warm, hearty meal.