11-year-old volunteers at free restaurant

Published 6:00 am Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Volunteers come in all shapes, sizes, and ages. It doesn’t really matter. There is work to be done and too few to do it.

One of those volunteers is a young man, Gavin Galloway, who is 11 years old. He will be going into the sixth grade at W.S. Neal Middle School.

A trip to Drexel and Honeybees Community Restaurant with his grandmother recently made him aware of the need for volunteers.

“I wasn’t very happy that day,” he said. “I had just got off the lawnmower from cutting our yard. I was hot and tried and sleepy. I didn’t even know much about the restaurant.”

While Gavin and his grandmother were in the restaurant, his grandmother told Lisa McMillan, the owner, about all the things he could do.

“I saw that Miss Lisa could use some help, so I volunteered to help out a few days a week,” he said. “There are so many people come in here to eat every day. I pour tea, wipe the tables and sweep the floor.”

Gavin’s grandmother, Carolyn Brazzell, probably did the best thing she could have done for him. He is learning to help others as well as becoming aware of the economic situation facing many people.

“A lot of people come in here to eat,” he said. “One day last week, there were so many that we ran out of food.”

Gavin lives with his grandparents, Carolyn and Craig Brazzell. He has a brother, Noah Galloway and a sister, Anasia Brazzell.

“I wish I had more time to work here, but with school coming up, I won’t have the time. I plan on coming back whenever I can. I want to study hard and become either a doctor or a pilot. I would like to go to college and better myself with an education.

“I enjoy it here at Lisa’s,” he added. “The work isn’t hard and I like meeting the customers.”

McMillan, the owner of the restaurant, is very happy to have Gavin to help out.

“He is just wonderful and everybody loves him,” she said. “The customers like having him around and he is learning what they like to eat and drink.”

The restaurant will soon go to being open on Tuesdays through Fridays from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. and there is a possibility of it being open one night a week. They still need volunteers.