Donna Mullins of Mullins International Solutions—profiled here recently for her outstanding work in the Atlanta logistics community and beyond—has done it again.
     Today when a random act of kindness and caring can often make the difference, she has marshalled a brave band of ladies to venture out with face masks, rubber gloves and proper social distancing to Hartsfield Jackson International Airport (HIJA) in Atlanta, where they have been delivering food to truckers who had nowhere else to go.
     Here Donna picks up the story.

The Truckers Home

     “Everyone has been affected by COVID-19.
     “The transportation industry has been both blessed and cursed by the virus.
     “Cursed in international transportation but blessed in domestic transportation.
     “Our truckers are once again being seen as ‘The Backbone of America.’
     “I teach many classes for international trade and logistics and I always remind students that merchandise begins and ends its journey on a truck—from the raw materials to make the item to the retail store or distribution center where it will be purchased.”


Truckers Keep Cargo Moving

     “Mullins International Solutions is a small company and we have felt the strain and stress of this pandemic, just as our fellow industry colleagues, truck drivers included,” Donna declared.
     “The truckers have been so important to the country’s continued success that FMSCA relaxed the HOS (hours of service) for the drivers.
     “This has helped the truckers and the supply chain.
     “The HOS relaxation has enabled drivers to complete routes that otherwise may have had to be split up into multiple legs,” Donna insists.

No Place to Hit the Breaks

     “However, this comes at some cost to the driver—longer hours and less time to stop and grab a bite to eat, and some establishments do not allow a tractor-trailer to sit in the drive-thru line, therefore making it even more difficult for them to get a well-deserved meal.”

Delivering Some Food for Thought

     “I gave thought to what we could do to help during this unprecedented time.
     “How could a small company like Mullins International Solutions possibly do anything to help our industry?
     “Then I saw a post on Facebook of a young girl, maybe 12 or so, sitting at a table near a roadside giving meals to truckers.
     “BAM!
     “That’s what we can do!

Other Helping Hands

     “So, I contacted a local restaurant, Ruby's Chicken House (Ruby's is named in memory of Ruby Saggus, my beautiful mama), and started a FAT KAT—Feed A Trucker, Keep America Trucking—Challenge.”
     “Ruby's made up 40 meals of chicken wraps, chips, a cookie, and a piece of fruit and gave us a discount on the purchase.
     “We bought bottled waters and along with the meals we gave every trucker a bracelet with this reminder—God's Got This!”

Faces Told the Story

     “The smiles on the driver’s faces when we gave them a free meal were priceless.
     “A big thank you to Kathy Williams, SEKO Logistics, and Cheryl Jackson, Page & Jones, for helping distribute the meals!
     “I’d like to also give a shout-out to Todd Moore of JP Hall Express who accepted the challenge and also bought 40 meals for his drivers.”

Community Begins with You

     “Just as everyone has been affected by COVID-19, everyone can help someone else too.
     “You don’t have to be a Fortune 500 company, a single meal fills someone’s belly and that, my friend, is helping your neighbor,” Donna Mullins said gently.
     “The government has initiated CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) and private stakeholders can CARES too, one single meal at a time.
     “We plan to continue.
     “FlyingTypers readers are invited to FAT KAT.
     “It all comes down to this, according to Dr. Seuss:
     “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not!”
Geoffrey
Here is how you can lean in and help FAT KAT feed some truckers. Contact Donna.