B

Food on Foot of Tennessee Foundation distributed Easter baskets to the residents of two Lakeway Area nursing homes this week.

A total of 200 Easter baskets were distributed between Life Care Center of Morristown and at Ridgeview Nursing Home in Rutledge.

Volunteers came to Life Care Center during a rainstorm Friday to spread a little sunshine. Among those receiving one of the baskets was 102-year-old Evelyn Williams.

“She was one of the first volunteers I ever had at Food on Foot,” Founder/President Carolyn Jarnagin said. “She just loved the children. She took to every one of them and they took to her.”

Williams was known as “The Candy Lady” for her giving candy away to the children during her years of volunteering.

“They would give her cards on her birthday. She helped me for 14 years until she turned 100. She was still volunteering at 100 years of age. It was so great to get to be with her.”

Williams and Jarnagin reflected on their years together with Food on Foot during the brief visit by Jarnagin and her volunteers.

“She would help make baskets for Easter,” Jarnagin said. “Her job was to hand the fruit out to adults and kids and the candy. Boy, she loved her job. If they didn’t stop to get their candy, she’d chase them out the door. She made sure they got their candy.”

Jarnagin said that it was a blessing to get to talk to Evelyn Friday. Jarnagin said that Evelyn still has a sharp mind after all these years.

“To get to know that God still has a purpose for her at 102,” she said. “She asked me to tell the kids, ‘Hi,’ for her, and I told her I would. ‘They’re getting their baskets (Saturday), right?’ Evelyn asked.

“That speaks so well for her and where her heart is,” Jarnagin said. “Her hands were always open to give and her loving heart leaped with joy to (volunteer).”

Among those distributing baskets were Executive Board Members Jana Terry and Sherry Delay.

“It shows that my board members always step up to help,” Jarnagin said. “It’s just good for the community to know that our board members don’t just sit, they go out and work. Sherry and her son Fletcher love helping everybody.”

Two other helpers were Jarnagin’s sisters, Faye Harbin and Wanda Brady.

“They came and helped make all of the Easter baskets,” Jarnagin said. “Their hands touched every basket that goes out. They love helping the community, too. That’s what Food on Foot is all about. It’s not just one person, it’s all of us coming together to make sure the less fortunate has just exactly (what they need). They’re in equal step with their peers.”