Citizen of the Week: Max Brown

Published 8:41 am Saturday, December 11, 2010

The holidays are sometimes referred to as “the season of giving.” Given the struggles many families are currently having to make ends meet and feed their families, every little bit helps.

And recently after seeing an article in The Daily Citizen stating the Salvation Army food pantry shelves were bare, 15-year-old Max Brown of Rocky Face, a sophomore at the McCallie School in Chattanooga, decided to take action.

First he noticed macaroni and cheese was listed as a needed item. Then he contacted his best friend and fellow student, Julian Nunally, and asked Nunally to meet him at The Bright School in Chattanooga where they had attended elementary school. The duo appeared on WTBS, The Bright School’s in-house daily news program, and asked students for help with their project, themed “High Five for Helping.” The effort resulted in 224 boxes of macaroni and cheese collected.

But Brown and Nunally didn’t stop there.

Next up was involving McCallie students by requesting donations at an upper school assembly. An additional 200 boxes were donated, increasing the total to 424. All 424 boxes were delivered on Nov. 30.

“He knew it was a food he likes, and he thought hungry kids would like it, too,” said Brown’s mom, Kim. “I encouraged him to think of ways he might help. His plan, I think, had great results.”

For helping hungry families in Whitfield County, The Daily Citizen names Max Brown Citizen of the Week.