On Tuesday, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James donated more than 1,300 meals to families of students who attend his I Promise School in his hometown of Akron, Ohio.
The move by James was a response to the current shutdown of the school because of the coronavirus, which has also deeply affected the restaurant industry.
In an effort to address both issues, the meals were purchased from the Akron Family Restaurant for 340 students at the school. The LeBron James Family Foundation and James himself combined to fund the venture.
Nick Corpas, owner of the restaurant, received a call last week and began preparation of the meals on Monday. At 6 a.m. on Tuesday morning, Corpas’ team began cooking and assembling the meals, with each of the 340 serving trays supplying enough food to feed four or five people.
Those meals consisted of chicken and beef tacos, rice, beans and tortillas with everything on them. The choice of that particular meal was a nod to James’ own “Taco Tuesday” that he’s noted multiple times on social media.
In addition, the selection of the restaurant largely stemmed from the fact that it’s located just one block from the high school that both James and Corpas graduated from, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School.
While students still have access to the school’s food pantry, James’ reason for such philanthropy was because of his interest in providing them with a hot meal.
Corpas was appreciative of the gesture by James and his foundation.
“It means a lot to me, my parents and my staff as well,” Corpas said. “We’re able to give them the opportunity to work and allow them to continue to work and help the foundation.”
The effort is scheduled to be repeated again next week, with an expansion of the current amount of meals provided.
