Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 1, 1995 TAG: 9506020003
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LUCY LEE SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Caldwell volunteers, "Everybody, honey! I love everybody!"
Her love for children, in particular, is one reason she has just published a third cookbook, "Celebrity Chefs of Country Music (and Friends)." The proceeds from its sales will go to the Lehi Christian Children's Foundation of Richmond.
The foundation is the culmination of Caldwell's lifelong dream of helping poor children. It will provide them with food, clothing and recreational and training opportunities.
Funding her ministry with a cookbook of country music stars' recipes is a natural combination since country music is another of her loves. When Caldwell was growing up, entertainment centered around the radio and, in her family, that meant the Grand Ole Opry. "We thought that was the only music there was."
"Celebrity Chefs of Country Music (and Friends)" features 164 recipes from almost as many stars. Several celebrities - Dolly Parton, the Statler Brothers and Amy Grant, for instance - sent more than one recipe.
Merle Haggard contributed "Hag's Hush Puppies" and "The Farmer's Daughter's Carrot Cake." Andy Williams submitted "Andy's Moon River Pasta." "Ricky's Chicken Pickin' Corn Soup" is an original that Ricky Scaggs stirred up in his own kitchen. There's a whole section on Chili, featuring "Skinny Chili" from Tom T. Hall and "Old Iron Pot Family Style Chili" from Johnny Cash.
Although the cookbook came out in March, you won't find it in book stores. Caldwell not willing to hand over the large percentage of sales they require. By ordering directly from the publisher, Omega Sales, Inc. in Salem, the bulk of the proceeds can go to the foundation.
Books will also be sold through specialty gift shops throughout the country, especially in country music hot spots such as Nashville and Bransom, Mo. The Dollywood Gift Shop will carry it, as will the Roanoke and Salem civic centers when they have country music shows.
Caldwell grew up in Roanoke County in a family that believed in giving and helping others. She credits her Baptist background and her mother and grandmother with shaping her values.
It's been said that she has "built-in sonar" for finding people in need. Several years ago she passed a teen-ager standing in front of a cafe on Atlantic Avenue in Virginia Beach. Something about him made her stop and ask, "Are you all right, son?"
He said, "Yes Ma'am," but, when she asked about the sutures around his mouth, he explained he had been attacked and robbed of the watch his grandmother had given him for graduation. His name was Scott, and he was from Cleveland, Ohio. He said he was looking for a job but hadn't had any luck. He hadn't eaten for two days.
Caldwell bought him breakfast, gave him some money and drove him to a fishing area where she thought he might find work.
"Next time I go to Cleveland, I'm going to put an ad in the paper and find Scott," she said. "He was a nice young man, and I'm sure he's done well."
Although Caldwell helps out whenever she finds someone in need, the Lehi Foundation will enable her to focus her efforts. To this end, she has enlisted the help of Corinne Gott, superintendent of social services for Roanoke.
Gott has an endless list of needy projects but she is especially interested in working with pregnant teens, truancy prevention and day care. "It doesn't take a whole lot of money to help children," she says.
Caldwell invites you to become a part of her ministry by purchasing a cookbook. Copies can be ordered from Omega Sales, Inc., P.O. Box 1182, Salem, Va. 24153. A check, payable to Omega Sales, Inc., for $23.85 covers the cost of the book, tax, postage and handling.
Memo: NOTE: Also ran in June 2, 1995 Current.