Shopper Blog: Avery Hanson of Karns High wins Optimist Humanitarian award
KARNS
Avery Hanson of Karns High wins Optimist Humanitarian award
Nancy Anderson, Shopper News
Seventeen-year-old Avery Hanson has a heart for service that tracks way back to her childhood days.
The unrelenting effort of her servant’s heart paid off in early December when she was awarded the Service to Humanity Award by the Optimist Club International club of Knoxville.
“My mom has always taught me that service or giving back is what we’re supposed to do. She’s the youth Leader at Beaver Ridge United Methodist Church and she’s always coming up with ways to be of service, be it a big project or small,” Hanson said.
Through the scope of her youth group, Hanson spends a lot of time helping the houseless folks under the bridge through Lost Sheep Ministries. She’s a regular visitor at Autumn Care Assisted Living and never misses an opportunity to help Karns High School band fundraise with car washes and mattress sales. She’s always on board with a smile on her face.
At Karns High School, she’s a member of the National Honor Society, DECA and other service-related groups, all while maintaining a 4.4 GPA.
She learned to strive for excellence as a child when she noticed that some kids didn’t have anyone to play with at the park. With a little help, she installed a “Buddy Bench” where kids can go and sit if they’d like to play but have no one to play with.
Hanson earned her Girl Scout Silver Award by making weighted blankets for foster kids living with anxiety. Hanson came up with the idea because she has anxiety and said her weighted blanket helps her tremendously.
“I love my blanket; it helps a lot. It feels like I’m getting a hug, and I just wanted to pass that along to other kids who have anxiety. Foster kids go through a lot, so I thought they might benefit the most. The blankets will help them sleep better, which is so important when you have anxiety.”
Hanson is already working on new ways to help others. She is writing a poetry book about children who are survivors of sexual abuse. It’s a subject that takes bravery and compassion to discuss.
“I really want to bring awareness to this subject. So many hide in the darkness when they don’t know how many others are rowing the same boat. I want to erase the stigma surrounding this subject.”
Hanson lets no grass grow under her feet. She received word several days ago that she scored a 31 on her ACTs. She wanted a stellar score, so she kept studying and taking the test until she was finally satisfied with her score.
Mom Bailey Hendricks Hanson chimed in to relay how proud she is of Avery.
“While I am (obviously) proud of the number, I am more proud that she set an achievable goal for herself, and worked her butt off to accomplish it!! Go out and chase your dreams girl! We are so proud!”
NORTH KNOXVILLE
Vine Middle baseball gets a boost from friends in Halls and Powell
Al Lesar, Shopper News
Midway through a practice, it wasn’t unusual for players to take their shoes off because their cleats were too tight.
That’s just one of the hazards of a baseball program in its infancy.
For quite a long while, Vine Middle School hadn’t had a baseball team. Five years ago, Justin Lowe resurrected the program and has served as its head coach. Brothers Joe Stafford and Isiah Stafford are assistant coaches.
The Stafford brothers, who both live in Halls, work for Christian Carpeting, which is owned by 1998 Powell High School grad Brent Belue. Belue also lives in Halls.
“We’ve talked a lot about the baseball program and the struggles they’ve had to get the proper equipment,” Belue said. “When he started the program, Justin and his wife bought a lot of the equipment out of his own pocket. They didn’t have anything.”
The team is actually run under the umbrella of the Emerald Youth Foundation, since there is no organized program within the Knox County Schools.
Vine baseball made special run
The Stafford brothers will spend their time talking baseball while working in the flooring business. Belue can’t help but be part of their conversation.
Last year, Vine’s baseball team had an amazing run, ultimately losing to Holston in the tournament championship game. After the loss, Belue, who was watching for the first time, bought hot dogs and drinks for the players.
“There wasn’t a lot of interaction going on,” Belue said. “They were disappointed that they lost.”
What Belue did notice was what the Stafford brothers had been talking about − this was a team that was short on equipment. A couple of weeks ago, Belue made a Facebook post on “I Love Powell” asking for people to look in their garage and see if there was any baseball gear gathering dust that could be used by the team.
People responded, offering gift cards, “like new” equipment and anything else. It was shared to the Knox Travel Baseball page and even more responses were received.
“That’s just my normal reaction,” said Belue. “I’m a Christian. I seek to meet the needs of others whenever I can.”
Aspiration is in the name
Belue tries to make the name of his company, Christian Carpeting, more of a way of life than anything else.
In the past, he and his wife have taken in several foster children, most of whom were infants born to mothers addicted to drugs. Today, they have six children − four are their biological children and two were fosters and are now adopted. They range in age from 18 to 7.
“It’s another case of meeting the needs, like the Bible says,” Belue said. “We were just following the Lord. It’s been gratifying and fulfilling. We’re trying to provide everything we can. It’s better to give than to receive.”
That was the motivation behind taking action for the Vine baseball team in the first place.
“I’m always looking for the opportunity to give back,” Belue said. “You never know how much impact you can have on someone by just fulfilling a small need.”
For more information, or to contact Belue, call 865-607-7290.
FARRAGUT
Farragut Lions spread diabetes awareness
Nancy Anderson, Shopper News
“We probably hand out about 90 pairs of glasses a month to those who can’t afford it,” said Farragut Lions President Jerry Griffin. “When you see what we do, it’s very heartwarming. I’ve been a member of a smaller club and a larger club, and both were very successful in getting glasses in the hands of those who need them.
“But it isn’t only just glasses; we’ve funded several surgeries over the years.”
The Farragut Lions club can even be found handing out readers under the bridge to those not only without glasses but without homes.
One can find the Farragut Lions at a number of Farragut events, from raising money for the Salvation Army to marching in the Farragut Fourth of July parade.
But lately, they can be found gearing up for a new initiative to educate those with diabetes and pre-diabetes.
“Diabetes is an insidious disease that can cause total system meltdown,” Griffin said. “Pre-diabetes can be reversed, and that’s what we’re concentrating on: living a better life and reversing pre-diabetes so that you never get it.”
The Lions have made sight conservation their main focus throughout the world, hence, the emphasis on diabetes.
There’s no doubt the Farragut Lions change lives through improved eyesight. According to the Farragut Lions website quoted by Griffin, “Diabetes is a global epidemic with 463 million adults living with the disease in 2019. About 232 million more go undiagnosed. One in five adults over 65 are living with diabetes; 4.2 million deaths occurred in 2019 due to undertreated diabetes.”
A short seminar will be presented at the Jan. 23 meeting. Social time is at 6 and the meeting starts at 7 at Mimi’s Bistro on 10945 Parkside Drive.
In the short presentation by Lion Doug Haseltine, “We’re trying to teach people how to recognize and deal with diabetes in their lives.”
All are welcome to attend regardless of diabetes status.
Info: Farragut.TNLions.org.
2023 is a wrap: Tennessee football loses more games but gains Nico
OPINION
No-guilt gatherings build strong foundation
Leslie Snow, Shopper News
If I close my eyes, I can still picture my grandmother standing in front of the door to her apartment, waiting for us to arrive for Friday night dinner. I can picture the tissues stuffed inside her sleeve and the apron tied tightly around her ample waist. But mostly, I remember her joyful smile and the way we rushed into her arms for a hug before we joined the rest of the family in the living room.
Her apartment always smelled like stuffed cabbage and brisket. Her candy bowl was always filled with M&M’s. And her table was always set for a crowd, 17 of us on most nights.
My parents, cousins, aunts, and uncles would gather around a table overflowing with too much food. Second and third helpings were not only encouraged, they were required. And on those rare occasions when I would turn down a second serving of stuffed cabbage, my grandmother would say, with a pained expression on her wrinkled face, “What? You don’t like my cooking?”
If you didn’t leave my grandmother’s table too stuffed to move, you were offending her.
When I was younger, I always looked forward to Friday night dinners. I would listen quietly while the adults argued over politics and the strength of the Cleveland Browns offensive line. Children were seen and not heard at my grandmother’s table, but I didn’t mind. I was content, even then, to be a quiet observer.
When I grew older, my Friday nights were harder to sacrifice. I wanted to listen to records at my friend Evy’s house or see a movie with Kriss. I wanted to stay after school for play practice and be there for all my high school football games. I wanted to be a normal teenager, and I resented the heaping spoonfuls of guilt served at every meal I missed.
Maybe that’s why, when our kids and extended family moved to Knoxville, I didn’t try to re-create the Friday night dinners of my youth. I didn’t insist that everyone choose between date night and dinner at our house.
Instead, I instituted Browns Brunch, an opportunity for NFL fans and nonfans to gather for a meal, catch up on the week’s news, and to watch a Browns game together. Whether they like football or not.
Watching the game isn’t required and children are encouraged to be both seen and heard, except during scoring drives. Second helpings are optional.
I tell everyone who joins us that there is no guilt in football. “You’ll always be included, but you never have to come,” is the message I send out in our group text. And I mean it. I can already foresee a time when sleepovers or soccer tournaments take priority over family brunch, but for now, everyone seems happy to join us each Sunday.
And even though the weekly meal we serve doesn’t land on Friday night, I still think of my grandmother when the kids run into my arms at our front door each Sunday afternoon. I think of her waiting for us outside her apartment and of the long hours she spent cooking and baking for the 17 of us.
Friday night dinner was one of her great joys, and my memories of those nights have stayed with me.
In my way, I’m channeling and honoring my grandmother with every text invitation I send for Browns Brunch. She knew the importance of weekly gatherings and of keeping family close. She understood that staying connected builds a strong foundation. Even when movie night takes priority.
Leslie Snow may be reached at snow column@aol.com.
Seema Singh must resolve issues to run for state House seat held by Johnson | Ashe
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Shopper News brings you the latest happenings in your community
