Coronavirus: Food Truck Serves Meals To Those In Need In Gwinnett

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA — Since November, Hank Reid has been driving a food truck to carry meals where they’re needed in Gwinnett County. Now, with a cratered economy because of the coronavirus pandemic and more need than ever, he has his work cut out for him.

That’s why Reid is now partnering with local civic agencies to keep his truck on the road five days a week, feeding as many people as possible. Among those supporting Reid’s company, Lettum Eat!, are the Gwinnett County NAACP, First Baptist Church Snellville, Guardian Financial Services and Gwinnett County Solicitor General Brian Whiteside

Reid — he goes by “Chef Hank” — said he was inspired by the work of José Andrés, the celebrity chef whose World Central Kitchen feeds victims of natural disasters.

“Our mission is mobile food provisions prepared with care and served with compassion to those in need,” Reid said.

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Last week, Chef Hank and Lettum Eat served about 1,100 meals consisting of a green vegetable, a protein and a starch at church parking lots in Dacula, Duluth, Lawrenceville, Norcross and Snellville. Because the Gwinnett County schools already have breakfast and lunch covered, Lettum Eat! serves its meals at dinner time. Reid hopes to bump that up by 100 meals this week, with an eventual goal of serving at least 2,500 meals every week.

Reid said he also brings meals to extended-stay motels throughout the county, where the need is especially acute. In fact, at one stop at The Nett Church on Jimmy Carter Boulevard near many of those motels, Reid said they gave out 200 meals in about 30 minutes. “We knew that we were in an area that had need, and the organization (The Nett) was outstanding,” he said Sunday.

How long will Reid do it? As long as needed, contingent on donations. Although the Gwinnett Coalition for Health & Human Services recently donated $10,000 — enough to keep Lettum Eat! going for several weeks — Reid said his greatest need is simply a regular set of wheels. “We do find ourselves scrambling to find transportation,” he said. A dedicated food truck would be ideal, but even a cargo van that could be fitted with warming equipment and refrigeration would do.

“We plan on being here long after this pandemic,” Reid said. “This need isn’t going away.”

Daily locations 4:30-6:30 p.m. for Lettum Eat!:

• Monday: First Baptist Church Snellville, 2400 Main St., Snellville.
• Tuesday: Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church, 3458 Church St., Duluth.
• Wednesday: Christ the King Dacula, 258 Rabbit Hill Road, Dacula.
• Thursday: Lawrenceville Cooperative Food Ministries, 52 Gwinnett Dr., Lawrenceville.
• Friday: The Nett Church, 5320 Jimmy Carter Blvd., Norcross.

Feeding a family of five costs about $10. For more information on donating, visit the Lettum Eat! website.

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