Paying it forward: North Carolina couple feeds over a hundred college students

When Rachel Sullivan left Chicago to attend a North Carolina college ten years ago, a nearby family friend welcomed her to their home whenever she needed a place to eat. Through her “adopted parents,” Rachel got to meet their neighbors and other friends.

After four years of college, Rachel returned to her hometown with her husband Tom Sullivan who had become quite the chef. But Tom’s work led them to move to North Carolina.

Following a PCOS diagnosis, Rachel required a special diet to help regulate her hormones because the couple was trying to have a baby. This is where Tom’s cooking expertise became very handy. He also created an Instagram account called “mealssheeats” to share the food he would make.

PCOS or polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition in which the ovaries do not regularly release eggs, leading to irregular periods and a slimmer chance of getting pregnant. 

One day, Tom ran into Kevin Gallagher, the son of one of those friendly neighbors Rachel met in college.

“Him and his friends were all working out trying to eat well, and super intense about dieting, and what they eat. He just kept talking about how he’s cutting, but they don’t have food at their place,” Tom told USA TODAY.

Tom immediately invited Kevin over to their home to have some dinner. Not long after, whenever Tom made extra food for Rachel, he’d call the young man to come over. The bonding brought Kevin and the Sullivan couple closer.

“They’re basically a part of our family now, like I’m part of theirs,”  Kevin told USA TODAY. “It’s kind of just a cool dynamic we have.”

After posting a TikTok video of “Kevin the college kid” coming over for food, Rachel was asked by multiple commenters whether they could also be like Kevin.

“All these other kids were like, ‘Oh my God, can we be adopted?’” Rachel Sullivan said. 

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A post shared by Tom Sullivan (@mealssheeats)

The Sullivans started their own meals-to-go program, making home-cooked meals that fit Rachel’s diet for more than 100 nearby college students.

The students were also delighted to have met the Sullivans’ dog, Odin.

“They all end up staying inside and talking, and I think it’s officially hit the point where like, these kids, we can see how happy they are. And we’re definitely getting as much joy out of it,” Tom said. “You can see how genuine it is.”

“I appreciate them so much,” Kevin said. “I will remember this to the day I die, and I will always be grateful. It’s nice to just have food on standby that I can just go and snack on between my classes or while I’m working on a project or something. I’ve just been so appreciative of everything they’ve done for me.”

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A post shared by Tom Sullivan (@mealssheeats)

Local college students can sign up to get healthy homecooked meals from the Sullivans. Tom and Rachel try to make big meals every week. The couple is also in contact with people who want to do the same in their community. 

Though the couple’s dog Odin is adorable, Tom and Rachel still wish that one day they’ll have a baby of their own.

Source: MSN