Lincoln Memorial University’s (LMU) campus food pantry, Lincoln’s Cupboard, recently received a special donation of fresh eggs thanks to Raylynn Parker, a dedicated 4-H member and daughter of LMU-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU-DCOM) employee Shannon Billingsley.
Raylynn is known for her resilience and determination on and off the field. The 12-year-old has been an active participant in 4-H since the fourth grade and began her journey raising chickens after giving a public speaking presentation about them. What started as a simple interest quickly turned into a passion. Today she cares for around 30 chickens on her family’s farm. As her flock grew, so did her egg supply, leading her to find ways to share the abundance with others.
"With the warmer weather, the chickens have been laying around 15 eggs a day. I had been asking everyone if they needed eggs. I didn’t want them to go to waste because we can’t eat 15 eggs a day," Billingsley explained.
That’s when Mary Bolton, LMU Women of Service chaplain, reached out to Billingsley and introduced her to Lincoln’s Cupboard. After learning about the pantry’s mission to support LMU students facing food insecurity, they knew they had found the perfect place to donate the extra eggs.
"She offered a tour to show me Lincoln's Cupboard because I was unaware that this was being offered at LMU,” Billingsley recalled. “I took this opportunity to donate eggs that we had laying around, all while trying to teach Ray how something as small as eggs can be a great benefit to others."
Before long, Raylynn realized that their donation could have a meaningful impact beyond just preventing food waste. “I think it’s important to give back to my community,” she said. “It makes me happy knowing that something as small as eggs can make a difference for someone in need.”
Her family said despite Raylynn being small for her age, she has never let that stop her. She plays three sports—basketball, soccer and softball—where her mom says she is often underestimated but never backs down. Her family lovingly calls her “small but fierce” because of her relentless determination, whether on the court, the field or in her community service. Her family could not be prouder.
“This experience has shaped her into being humble. We have had many conversations about how others might need assistance and may not be as fortunate as we are," Billingsley said. "Raylynn has always been a friend to anyone. She is so selfless. I am beyond proud of Ray and who she has become."
Looking ahead, Raylynn hopes to make egg donations a regular part of her routine. She plans to continue donating eggs every two weeks as long as her hens are producing. She and her family are also accepting donations of smaller egg cartons to help distribute the eggs more efficiently.
“I think it's important to give back to my community because I like knowing that I can help other people who might be in need and show other kids my age how you can make a positive impact,” Raylynn said. “I hope that my donation of eggs can cause someone less stress, even if it's just as small as eggs.”
Lincoln’s Cupboard aims to bridge the gap by providing LMU students with hygiene items, household supplies, blankets and pillows, meat, vegetables, fruits, and shelf-stable milk, among other items. In addition to the main Lincoln’s Cupboard, satellite pantries are available at various LMU learning sites, including the DeBusk Veterinary Teaching Center in Ewing, Virginia, and multiple locations in Knoxville, Tennessee.
For more information about Lincoln’s Cupboard and how to support its mission, visit: https://www.lmunet.edu/community/women-of-service/pathways-of-service.
To donate to Lincoln’s Cupboard, visit: https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/28518/donations/new?designation=woslincolnscupboard.
