Neighbors in Ootlewah Gives Away Free Food

Ootlewah, Tenn. (WDEF)- It’s been two weeks since the tornado disaster on Easter Sunday damaging homes and business in East Tennessee and North Georgia.

Clean up and recovery is expected to be a long process but community members continue to step up as good samaritans.

Neighbors in Ooltewah near the Holly Hills subdivision found a way to spread joy to nearby residents, lineman, volunteers and anyone who could use a tasty meal.

“We are making meals for the tornado victims and also the people that are helping the preparation and cleanup from the tornadoes after they ripped through our community on Easter Sunday” said Ootlewah resident April Learn.

“This is our rig. It’s a barbecue rig and we’re all working together” said Ootlewah resident Harold Shevlin. “He came to my house this and said ‘I got a plan’ and it’s outstanding.”

The goal was to provide 2,500 meals on Sunday.

“And once we got all the money l made a big order at Sam’s Club” said Don Learn. “We went back to Walmart bought some more stuff and back to Sam’s. We’ve been going since 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon.”

“My wife and my family were just looking for something we could do to give back. The outstanding work that the sheriff and the police department, the troopers and EPB -there’s got to be something we can do” said Shevlin.

“It has been just awesome just to see the people’s faces and the out pour of the community so far. When we finally run out of gas we’re just going to donate it to a charity” said Don Learn.