1,300 People Fed After Two Friends Inspired To Help

An initiative started by a Wilson woman and a restaurant owner has led to more than 1,300 hot meals served to people in need. It started when Myra Powell heard a news story on the radio.

"I was listening to NPR Morning Edition one morning, and I heard about this person in Texas who had ordered a meal from a restaurant in Los Angeles, but said on the ticket online ‘I’m not picking this up, give it to someone in need,’" Powell recalled, adding that in that moment, she was inspired to do something similar in Wilson County.

"How wonderful that would be not only for the people who get food, but for the restaurants who are able to keep their employees and business going."

"It is a difficult time because we have all the restrictions that are in place. Some of the restrictions have been lifted. However, it still puts a pressure on us to get the customer in the door," Bell says.

Since Powell made the initial donation, business has been slowly picking up.

"It’s improving. We have more people coming through the door since we started," Bell said.

Now they hope others will keep it going at their favorite local restaurants. Powells emphasizes that it doesn’t have to be a large donation — even $10 can make a difference.

"The whole point is that this is something that is so simple," Powell says.