Jylan Miller
North Carolina A&T
Roebuck, SC
"I believe Denny’s could further their efforts by partnering with other organizations such as the City of Spartanburg Police Department in the National Night Out event held annually to engage with and identify the needs of the community."
Valiyah Young
Clemson University
Duncan, SC
"Providing balanced meals, reaching out to those in need, and always seeking more improvement within low-income areas can help Denny’s bring communities together. A nurturing, balanced meal can make a difference in a person's life. Denny’s providing weekly fresh meals within neighborhoods or areas can change the atmosphere of the environment."
Devin Hammonds
College of Charleston
Roebuck, SC
"Since Denny's is such a popular and well-known corporation, it would be helpful for Denny's to host, sponsor, or even promote the goodwill of community partnerships. A perfect example would be for Denny’s corporation to collaborate with community partners."
Henry Harrington
Central State University
Indianapolis, IN
"Denny’s is committed to giving back to local communities with their programs. Their team members love to volunteer with these events that Denny's hosts because they love to help out ones who need food, making their day better and making others smile. "
Jahneulie Weste
University of Tennessee - Knoxville
Knoxville , TN
"Denny's can help bring communities together by being a middle ground for people from different perspectives to talk. In today's age, many people are on extreme ends of their opinions, and there is little to no effort to look towards the other side or meet in the middle. A place like Denny's could provide a safe space for dialogue from opposing sides that may become a team."
Varia Alston
Norfolk State University
Baltimore, MD
"Denny's can help bring communities together by reaching out to young people like myself and getting our thoughts and ideas on a regular basis. Answering this essay question is a perfect example of one way that could be accomplished. We as young people have many ideas, but we just need a platform to talk openly about them. "
Chelsea Gichohi
University of WA Seattle Campus
Federal Way, WA
"If Denny's focused on low-income neighborhoods and found a neutral area to host the gathering, they could also bring members from the community to form a committee that helps plan the fine details. This gathering could be held sometime in the afternoon, and weekly. "
Jalen Harbin
University of Kentucky
Louisville, KY
"With Denny’s help kids like me from low income homes get the glorious opportunity to attend college and live the life they’ve desired in their dreams and with the Urban League and Denny’s working together they can reach multiple communities and improve upon them and initiate a new era of empowerment, opportunity, equality, and peace."
Jervaris Rice
Coastal Carolina University
Spartanburg, SC
"Denny's can foresee, conceive, and actualize a genuine future for everyone by creating numerous opportunities for apprenticeships and internships to provide direct experiences. By doing this, Denny’s can bring diverse populations together as they work towards attaining economic stability in communities which is more vital today more than ever."
Adom Appiah
Spartanburg, SC
"I would like Denny's to start a socially responsible program where students can receive meals in exchange for summer work. Denny’s can partner with local libraries to start reading programs where children will receive tokens for the number of books read. The children can turn those tokens over to Denny’s to receive a free meal."
Saxon Brown
Lipscomb University
Mauldin, SC
"In addition to the incredible dining experience, Denny’s helps build the community through several community services and charity efforts. One of these charitable efforts is the company’s contribution to the No Kid Hungry foundation. This partnership has provided 100 million meals to hungry children in America since 2011."
Tristen Davis
University of South Carolina
Spartanburg, SC
"I believe that the most effective way for Denny’s to bring communities together is through sports and mentoring programs. Similar to the design of traditional summer camps, Denny’s could fund mentoring programs that run during the summer and the school year."
Victor Mattison
Clemson University
Mauldin, SC
"A way Denny’s can help bring communities together is by helping fund a community playground park. Parks are a great way of providing fun physical activity, promoting social skills, and limiting time on digital media. An issue today with children and adolescents is that they are spending an inordinate amount of time on digital media."
Larry Patterson
N.C. A&T State University
Kernersville, NC
"First and foremost, bringing a whole community together starts with unity you may ask yourself is this community united for instance say the answer is no. The first step would be what kind of event could we have that could bring the whole community together, and an event that suites everyone including kids and elders."
Xavier Hammond
Florida A&M University
Riverview, FL
"Founded as a donut shop in 1953 in Lakewood, California, Denny’s has been a constant in the community for 68 years and there are ways that this organization can bring people of our communities closer together, including food pantries, expanded internship opportunities, and partnerships with local high schools. Denny’s can help strengthen community bonds by joining in the fight against hunger and food insecurities."
Caleighsta Edmonds
Howard University
Fort Wayne, IN
"Denny’s has the rare opportunity to support a program that will exist long after it’s conception. Denny’s has the chance to correct an immense wrong of the past and provide a solution for far off future generations. I truly believe this modern-day free breakfast program has the potential and brain power to not only be erected into actuality, but to change the lives of those too young to advocate change for themselves."
Spencer Thomas
Howard University
Charlotte, NC
"Knowing the people of your community is essential to growth and happiness. With knowing one another you are meeting new friends, creating relationships, and finding opportunities. The assumed goal is to put a smile on everyone’s faces and serve as an organization that is known to help one another. However, it will only work if everyone is on board! No one should feel left out nor unworthy in opportunities to help and grow communities."
Mya Bailey
Southern University A&M College
Bloomington, CA
"Since it was founded in 1953, Denny’s has been a remarkable restaurant for communities to come together and be able to express opinions and emotions that they are unable to do in the outside world. With it being a 24 hour establishment, it has become a safe space to enjoy food from breakfast to dinner. Personally, Denny’s has always been a go to spot after high school dances, graduation, and many other celebrations for my family and I."
Cathy Ulugia
Brigham Young University
Murray, UT
"Currently, I believe Denny's can help bring communities together by hosting local activities that build up communities. Perhaps, hosting a company party, hosting a local school fundraiser, creating a book drive, a pantry drive, and/or feed the homeless or train a homeless to be a dynamite Denny's employee."
