What a pleasure it is to visit with longtime community volunteer Nan Lee! She’s friendly, talkative, and has decades of wonderful Lakeland stories to share. She’s also an inspiration – at age 81, Nan is still going strong. Originally from Ohio, Nan attended Allegheny College and taught 2nd through 6th grade students for 37 years. She loved teaching and working with the students. In 1968 Nan and her husband Jim moved to Florida so that he could take a job as a basketball coach, and in 1969 they relocated to Lakeland. Nan and her family have called Lakeland home ever since.
Three generations of Lee family members have been involved in Lakeland-area schools and colleges, nonprofit organizations, and churches. “The philanthropy here is amazing,” Nan noted. “We are so fortunate to have strong leaders in the community.”
Nan and her family initially became involved with VISTE as members of First United Methodist Church. She and Jim started delivering food to local seniors in need as volunteers for our Supplemental Grocery program. At first, she was a little puzzled that some of the people picking up groceries were driving nice, late-model cars – until she realized they were picking up food for their elderly neighbors!
After that, Nan and her family began volunteering for VISTE’s Thanksgiving Meal Delivery. Preparations begin months prior to the event. On the day before Thanksgiving, volunteers deliver holiday meals with all the trimmings, artwork by local schoolchildren, and a live plant to our elderly clients. For some seniors, this may be the only holiday visit they receive.
Nan said that during pre-Covid years, so many people volunteered to deliver meals that each volunteer was encouraged to deliver to only one home. This enabled the volunteers to stay for an extended visit to bring holiday cheer to the clients.
One year, a group of students volunteered to deliver Thanksgiving meals as part of their community service work. When the students hadn’t returned after several hours, VISTE checked to be sure everything was ok. As it turns out, the client was not only delighted to see the students and receive a meal, but he also taught them how to play poker! They were all having so much fun that the students lost track of time.
Nan and Jim continued to volunteer for the Thanksgiving Meal Delivery, first at Crisper’s restaurant location in downtown Lakeland. The next two years they plated food on trays and added whipped cream to pumpkin pies. As Nan said, “We had oodles of people who came to the event!”
Later Nan and her husband Jim were asked to organize the preparation of rolls as well as the many loaves of bread baked by local Girl Scout troops for inclusion with the meals. They also arranged an assembly line to coordinate the process of placing the meal items and other treats into decorated bags for delivery. Utilizing her leadership and exceptional organization skills, Nan has continued to oversee that process, which has grown from 100 to 2,000 holiday meals being prepared and delivered that day.
Sadly, Jim passed away unexpectedly in 2013 at age 68, and his loss is still felt. He was a teacher and a coach and later spent 42 years in the insurance industry. He was also a charter member of the Sixth Man Club at Florida Southern College, president of the group for over six terms, and supported athletics throughout the state. He also served on numerous boards and advisory groups.
However, without Jim to assist during the Thanksgiving event, Nan assumed the baton would be passed to someone else. Fortunately for us, Nan has continued to be an integral part of our Thanksgiving Meal Delivery. Steve Bissonnette noted, “Nan’s attention to detail is one of the reasons she is so good at overseeing this aspect of the event!”
Participating in the Thanksgiving event continues to be a family tradition. Nan’s son Rick, daughter-in-law Christy, and two granddaughters, Sydney and Stella Grace, volunteer to help local seniors in need. Their son Randy is also supportive. Community service is a way for the Lee family to give back and to help their elderly neighbors, especially during the holidays.
Nan is also active with her family and friends, at her church, with Florida Southern College, and assists many other worthy causes and organizations. As we were visiting to prepare this article, she received a phone call from another Thanksgiving volunteer. They discussed details of the upcoming event and coordinated timing for the next meeting. At the end of the conversation, Nan concluded by saying, “It’s only possible because of people like you!”
We would say the same thing to Nan, her family, and everyone who shares their time, talent, and support to bring holiday cheer to local seniors in need! We are honored to work with Nan and the Lee family, and look forward to seeing them on Wednesday, November 26 for the 29th Annual Thanksgiving Meal Delivery! Nan, THANK YOU for your legacy of service to VISTE by sharing holiday cheer with our elderly neighbors in need! You and your family are truly an inspiration.
