Lee University recently received a $1,000 grant from the Neighborhood Walmart in Hixon, Tennessee. Students from multiple Benevolence classes used the grant to conduct a food drive at Oak Grove Elementary School.  

“My students and I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how we could best serve the people of this amazing area during the Thanksgiving holiday, and we are so blessed by the outcome of this food drive,” says Sarah Brandenburg, Benevolence class instructor and coordinator of the food drive. “Cleveland has such a rich history and is made up of a group of hardworking people, some of whom just need to be reminded they matter.”  

One hundred families from four different Bradley County Schools were contacted and selected to receive a turkey dinner as part of the food drive.  

“We couldn’t have achieved any of this without the wonderful team of people that worked together and shared a similar passion to serve others,” says Brandenburg. “My amazing students at Lee donated time, food, and passion.”  

Deborah Hale, one of Brandenburg’s benevolence students, secured the grant.  

“I was truly overwhelmed by the way God orchestrated every detail of His plan, a plan far greater than our own, to meet the needs of the community,” says Hale. “God brought ordinary people together, people who simply have a heart for the community and a willingness to be His hands and feet, and He did an extraordinary work, not just through us, but in us.”  

Students organized the food in Oak Grove Elementary’s gymnasium. Throughout the day, they handed out treat bags to the children and read to them in their classrooms.  

“It was a wonderful day for Oak Grove Elementary,” says Brad Davis, principal of the school. “I’d like to thank the administrations at Valley View, Park View, and Taylor Elementary schools for helping us pull this off. It’s an honor to be in the position to help families during this holiday season, and I look forward to doing more in the future.”  

Brandenburg and her students, along with Davis, had help from Brad Walters, manager of the Neighborhood Walmart in Hixon. Walters helped the class secure the grant, get supplies, and organize the food at the school on the day of the drive.    

“I am very thankful to represent Walmart and to have the resources to partner with Lee University,” says Walters. “We keep the mission of helping families save money and live better lives. The work of putting this food drive together was amazing, and I am just humbled to say we were a part of it.”  

Walmart Community Grants seek to create value in the communities around the world where Walmart operates, strengthening them through local grants supporting programs that help them thrive. 

For more information about the Walmart grants, visit walmart.org/how-we-give/local-community-grants.