P.T. Barnum observed, “Without promotion, something terrible happens. . .nothing!”

Nothing, that’s what gnawed at Abigail Merchant’s heart. Abigail, a senior at Reinhardt University in Waleska, GA, along with almost all of Reinhardt’s student body of more than1700 individuals, was at home embracing the university’s implementation of distance learning. But many of her friends among some 80 international students at Reinhardt couldn’t fly back home for their distance learning and life with family and friends. Instead, they are quarantined in their dorm rooms by the “shelter in place” requirements connected with the COVID-19 virus. Every day these students can get two-bagged meals at the dining hall. Otherwise, they have nothing in the way of additional foodstuffs such as tuna and canned fruits, bottled water, pasta and pasta sauces, frozen fruits and veggies, eggs, deodorants, seasonal allergy medications, paper towels and toilet paper.

As Abigail discussed this dilemma over the phone with her grandfather Jim Fausett—an Architect, Emeritus Professor and member of the Rotary Club of Marietta—she mused, “Could Rotary help these students?” Jim raised this question to President Chris Bethel during the Club’s ZOOM meeting on April 8. "Absolutely yes” was the immediate response of President Chris that week and President-Elect Mary Ansley Southerland the following week. In the meantime, Jim Peeler, another Rotarian and former Navy veteran, said he and President Chris could coordinate this project’s promotion via video teleconferencing and phone calls with club Rotarians and most importantly with Reinhardt’s Dean of Students Dr. Walter May, Student Health Center campus nurse Kristy Hough and others at the university. A flurry of e-traffic and phone calls ensued in the collection of funds for the “Reinhardt Challenge” grant as it was called. By Monday, April 20, the RC of Marietta raised and sent $1230 to Reinhardt’s food pantry for needy students. In addition, a large quantity of food and other items collected by Rotarians and others will be delivered to Reinhardt today - May 1.