As you all know, The Remote Area Medical Clinic was in town this past weekend on November 12th and 13th. Patients began lining up around 4:00 pm on Friday afternoon and the line continued to grow as nightfall came. Patients stood out in the cold with blankets, heavy coats and whatever was needed to try and stay warm. They began handing out tickets for the first round of patients around 3:00 am on Saturday morning. As patients stood in line, they never expected the generosity that they received during their wait. Thanks to a local lady and the help of one local non-profit organization, the patients received free food, water and coffee. Elizabeth Napier, a local resident, worked with The Remote Area Medical Clinic back a few years ago when it was in DeKalb County. While volunteering then, she saw the need to provide patients with food services due to some illnesses brought on by going without food for several hours, waiting in long lines. She made up her mind right then and there, that if they were to ever return, she would make sure food was provided as long as The Lord would help provide.
Little did she realize that God would hold her to that thought. When Mrs. Napier learned that the Remote Area Medical (RAM) was coming back to town, she began to pray about it and God directed her to the help of none other than DeKalb County Children’s Service Council. Upon contact, they also saw the same need and set out to make this happen.
Mrs. Napier approached her family, the organization and from there it just snowballed and what a great success it was. On Saturday, they were able to feed well over 600 patients and on Sunday about 300. There were over 34 gallons of coffee made and served, over 700 snack cakes and cookies passed out and countless bottles of water were handed out.
Special thanks goes to all of the sponsors: Star Manufacturing, Bumpers, WJLE, Cash and Carry, Prichard’s Grocery, Bay’s Southern Bread Co ( Sarah Lee), Mapco, Bumpers, Save-a-Lot, Wal-Mart, Howard Jr. and Frieda Reynolds, Doris Gilbert, Jim and Peggy Scott, Bill and Sue Dearman, Loretta Sharritts, Rebecca Tucker, Robert and Evelyn Tucker, David and Kaye Fedak, Berle and Mamie Billings, Marvin and Libbie Napier, Smithville Church of the Nazarene, Real Life Community Church, Chris Jolley, Kenneth Neal and The Cookeville Social Security office.
Special thanks to the volunteers who helped served. Libbie Napier, Kenneth Neal, Vonda Brown, Halea Brown, Caleb Haggard, Aaron Haggard, Daniel Haggard, Ashton Waggoner, Robert Davidson, Breanna Williams, Jodie Jones and Wanda Redmon.
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