This grandma delivered 300 Easter baskets to children in need

By Haley Yamada

The novel coronavirus pandemic couldn't stop one former truck driver and children’s minister from delivering 300 Easter meals and baskets for children in need in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Renee Brown, now a children’s author, partnered with Charlotte community activist Charles Robinson for the special Easter Sunday delivery that all came together from a Facebook post.

Kevin Campbell/WSOCTV

Renee Brown said she worked overnight to help package the Easter baskets in Charlotte, N.C.

Due to coronavirus shutting down schools and homeless food shelters, Robinson, who runs an organization called Community Hub, has been feeding hundreds of children three meals a day, and posted on Facebook about needing to find a kitchen to continue his work.

According to Robinson, coronavirus shutdowns have made many families food insecure in the Charlotte area, but the community has come together to rally around those who need meals the most. Some families are currently living in motel rooms, Robinson said, due to a major housing crisis as well.

Kevin Campbell/WSOCTV

Charles Robinson, founder of Community Hub, feeds families seven days a week amid coronavirus in Charlotte, N.C.

"God has blessed us with a lot of love and community support. The favor of God rests on us and the donations have come in and we've managed to work and love and feed the community. Charlotte’s really coming together," said Robinson.

Brown said she saw Robinson's post and had the idea to team up and deliver baskets to the children that Robinson was feeding, too.

"I remember seeing [Robinson’s Facebook post] and I got in contact with him and from that to Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, there was enough food donated to feed 1,500 people," said Brown.

Kevin Campbell/WSOCTV

Community volunteers kept their social distance while helping to organize the 300 donated Easter baskets in Charlotte, N.C.

"All the kids had a great Easter and it was so good to see those kids run out of their houses or motel rooms and get their baskets," Robinson added.

Brown said she was inspired by her late grandmother, known as Grandma Polly, to give back this Easter.

"She had 10 children, but when she fed us, she fed everybody because she was a woman that gave to her community," said Brown, who honored Grandma Polly by dressing like her while delivering the Easter baskets. "Just knowing what these kids go through, and to have the chance to give them that moment of pleasure, I can’t explain how much joy there is behind that."