To celebrate Founder’s Day, Sonny’s Chief Kindness Officer Elden teamed up with former CKO Kennon for a Kindness Caravan. The goal: surprise four heroes and organizations in Gainesville, Florida with Random Acts of BBQ. Ready to hit the road? Well, buckle up, because you’re in for a kind ride.
Kindness Caravan Stop 1: Bread of the Mighty
After loading up our Caravan, we started our journey settin’ off from the Original Sonny’s BBQ on Waldo Road. Our first stop: Bread of the Mighty.
This non-profit support food pantries and other feeding programs throughout Alachua, Gilchrist, Levy and Union counties in Florida. All those agency partners add up to more than 200. “It’s about 25,000 pounds a food a day comes out of our facility here, five days a week,” says Patrick Dodds, the Executive Director of Bread of the Mighty.
After hearing how hard they work to feed others, we thought it was only right to feed them for all the good they do. We showed up with a lunch for 25 people, with tins filled with all those comforting slow-smoked BBQ favorites.
Kindness Caravan Stop 2: Gainesville Community Ministry
Next, we hopped back in the car and traveled just a few miles down the road to Gainesville Community Ministry. They work to provide food and basic necessities to those in need across the area.
They’ve been working in the location we visited for more than 40 years, but their team says, they’ve been working across Gainesville for more than 50 years. In fact, they partner with Bread of the Mighty to receive most of the food they distribute.
We stopped by just in time for lunch and catered some BBQ for their team of about a dozen or so people. That feast included Sonny’s favorites like BBQ Pork, Chicken, Mac & Cheese and of course, our signature Sweet Tea.
Kindness Caravan Stop 3: Nurse Lisa Wright
From heroic organizations, to heroic people. Our next stop on the Kindness Caravan took us to UF Health Shands Hospital. Specifically, we were there for Nurse Lisa Wright, an Administer on the Lung Transplant Floor. We wanted to surprise her with a Random Act of BBQ.
Earlier this month, we asked for nominations for nurses who go above and beyond in their workplaces or communities, and Nurse Lisa’s caught our eye. Here’s just a snippet of her nomination:
“Her patients love her. She works hard with her 90 patients sometimes having to add another 30 when some are out. She is responsible for being available for answering questions, teaching new patients and their family, what to expect entering this new change in their lives, teaching new oncoming nurses how to work with their patients once trained as well as being on call 24/7 one week (sometimes more) a month. She loves her patients and co-workers and they appreciate all she does above what’s needed. She has such a loving and giving heart as she serves others.”
Touching, right? Well, after reading that, we made the decision to stop on our Caravan and surprise Nurse Lisa. We joined her coworkers outside the hospital doors and gave her a big cheer when she walked out. She was a bit overwhelmed, but so grateful for the recognition.
Kindness Caravan Stop 4: Nurse Diamond
Last but certainly not least, Nurse Diamond Hudson at Eastside High School. As school nurse, she’s one of the heroes helping kids in her community every day.
Her nominator told us she always shows up whenever she’s needed, she’s incredible with the students and to top it off, she absolutely loves her job. When we rolled up, she thought we were there for a Founder’s Day lunch sponsored by Sonny’s, however this day was all about her.
After sharing the good news, she went around and personally hugged every single person that was there for her. “It doesn’t matter what challenges we face,” Nurse Diamond told us. “Having a family like this where we know we can turn to each other, that’s what makes it all worthwhile.”
57 Years and More Stops to Come
If all that wasn’t enough, we even got a surprise visit from our 95-year-old founder, Sonny Tillman, at the Original Sonny’s BBQ on Waldo Road. He signed autographs, took pictures and enjoyed all the Founder’s Day fun. We’re beyond proud to carry on his legacy of slow-smoked BBQ slathered in Southern hospitality, and we’ll never forget, It’s Always Sonny’s Here.
If you want a closer look at all the Founder’s Day events, hop in the car with us. Elden and Kennon shared some heartwarming memories, big laughs and more throughout this very busy day. Meantime, if you know someone we should surprise on our next Kindness Caravan, nominate them for a Random Act of BBQ. Who knows? CKO Elden may roll up before you know it.
