Acts of Brightness shine in Murfreesboro Redstone Federal Credit Union’s ‘Brightness Crew’ descends on town, buys groceries for more than 100 families

Thomas Jenkins walked into JR’s Foodland on East Main Street on Wednesday afternoon in search of the perfect fish for his teenage son.

He found it, but worried about the cost and thought about putting it back. Then he was approached by a Brightness Crew member from Redstone Federal Credit Union©. Redstone’s Annalise Harwood told Jenkins to get a cart and fill it with anything he wanted because she was buying.

At first Jenkins balked at the offer, but in the end, he had nearly $120 worth of food for himself and his 16-year- old son Traomas Jenkins. “It’s something that has never happened to me before. I don’t understand,” Jenkins said, wiping tears from his eyes.

Jenkins was one of more than 100 people in Murfreesboro who benefited from Redstone’s Acts of Brightness on Wednesday. The Brightness Crew again donned their fluorescent yellow T-shirts and went out to brighten lives. This time they visited three grocery stores and paid for purchases at each location. In May, a Brightness Crew visited three gas stations in Murfreesboro and bought gas for motorists. Jenkins said he was touched by the offer because his son is nonverbal and autistic with severe texture issues that limit what he will eat. “He was so kind and got as little as he could,’’ Harwood said of Jenkins. “He was very humble.’’ The Brightness Crew say they love getting out into the community and meeting people. The crew also visited Aldi on Robert Rose Drive and the Walmart Neighborhood Store on Fortress Boulevard.

Redstone has branches at 1749 S. Rutherford Blvd. and 1141 Fortress Boulevard in the Blackman area. Redstone also has plans for a flagship branch on Medical Center Parkway across from The Avenue Murfreesboro and Peter D’s restaurant.