On the Cover: Lettum Eat!: Providing Food for the Gwinnett Community

By Kristen Eleveld

You may be surprised to learn that many people are facing food insecurity right here in Gwinnett County. Some community members have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic; others are struggling to find ways to feed their family. No one should have to wonder where their next meal is coming from or choose between paying the light bill or feeding their family, which is why one organization in the Gwinnett area is working hard to feed those who are in need.

Meet Chef Hank, a professional chef in Snellville who has run the gamut of experience in the food service industry in his career of over three decades. Several years after running multiple restaurants and owning his own in the Snellville Community, Chef Hank realized that he could help people who were in need all around him – and he literally took his show on the road.

“I’ve always been strong on community involvement,” says Chef Hank, who has started nonprofit initiatives from youth athletics to after school culinary arts programs throughout the years. “I believe in utilizing my God-given abilities to help others. If I was a mechanic, I would be teaching others to repair cars or fixing up cars for those who couldn’t afford to have it done themselves.”

In 2018, Chef Hank had the opportunity to work at a local church as the executive chef, where he saw a greater opportunity to attract families in the community and inspire them to come and dine as a family. It was then that he realized the outreach potential and the impact that could be made if these efforts were refocused outward and shared with communities all over. The idea for Lettum Eat! was born.

The name itself comes from a phrase that Chef Hank and his coworkers would often say when working in a restaurant kitchen to let a server know that a meal was ready. They would plate the food and call out “Lettum eat!” to signify that

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Publisher/Owner

Dr. Ryan T. Sauers

Ryan@EndResultz.com

Creative Director

Elsie Olson

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Editor

Catherine L. Osornio

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5

Photography

Emil Powella

Photography

Distribution Coordinator

Wendy Head

Cover Story

Feature Writer

Kristen Eleveld

Feature Writers

Victoria R. Crosby

Tana Poncsak

Traci Sanders

Beth Volpert Johansen

Contributing Writers

Jane Bishop

Bill Crane

Terie Hansen

Tanisha Turner

Pam Walker

H. Darrell Watson

Ryan’s Remarks

By Dr. Ryan T. Sauers

Wow, it is April 2023. Spring is here and warm weather should be here to stay. In this column, I want to share some things I do and believe in all parts of my life. People have asked me to write this, so here it is. These are things I believe in and that help people achieve success. As a small business consultant, sales and marketing expert, entrepreneur, speaker, media owner, and published author, there are things that just work in achieving success.

I believe in a relentless work ethic, a passion for excellence, and unwavering grit and perseverance. Success is not a matter of luck or talent, but a result of hard work, dedication, and resilience. There are no shortcuts in life; a strong work ethic is a key foundation of success. There is no substitute for putting in the time and effort required to achieve your goals, or your dreams. Success is not a matter of “working smart,” but rather “working hard and smart.” Or said another way, of being both efficient and effective at what we do. I always encourage people to adopt the Keep Pushing Forward (KPF) mindset, as I have done for over 30 years. This means digging deep, finding a way to make things happen, and displaying grit.

In my dissertation, I learned that grit is the deep drive and courage to persist in the face of all types of adversity. You see, success is not a straight line but a journey filled with setbacks, failures, and obstacles. My advice is to work hard but enjoy the ride. We can do this and grow our grit by embracing challenges, learning from failures, and never giving up. My doctoral research and real-world experience show that people who have more grit are much more likely to achieve their goals and reach their full potential. It is vital that we are authentic as well. Such authenticity and consistent behavior build integrity, credibility, and respect, which are critical elements for long-term success. We must always be honest, transparent, and genuine in our actions that are built on trust. And when we make a mistake, live up to it and make it right.

Passion is also key to success because it is the fuel that drives success. It is more than just enthusiasm; it’s an intense desire to achieve

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