It is Wednesday morning, a food pickup day at Minnie's Food Pantry in central Plano. Unexpectedly there is a fun, upbeat energy here. Volunteers talk and laugh as they sort groceries and fill boxes. Michael Jackson's song "I'm starting with the man in the mirror..." happens to be playing on surround sound speakers—not overly loud, but certainly loud enough to have people bobbing their heads and mouthing the words. Some days volunteers dance in the aisles. A red carpet, complete with red velvet ropes on brass stanchions, spans the entry. People of all ages and appearances line up along the front and down the side of the 3,000-square-foot building before it opens to the clients at 9 a.m.
In the middle of it all, Robert "RJ" Jackson, handsome, full of life and joy, hugs little kids waiting with their families. He greets the folks he recognizes and just smiles at others who seem more reserved. For these people in need, who may be judged or pitied by others, RJ's genuine warmth makes them feel welcomed and accepted. That is food for the soul.
RJ graduated from Plano Senior High School in 2006. "Our basketball team won state that year, and everyone was asking me, 'Are you going to play ball in college?' and 'Where do you want to go to school,' and all that. But I wasn't really interested in college. The only thing I knew was hard work and faith. So after graduation, I went straight to work for Countrywide (later Bank of America). I was living nice and I was living comfortable in my own apartment."
About a year later, his mom, Cheryl "Action" Jackson, called to discuss an opportunity—a mission, really. She had been developing a plan for a new food bank in the heart of Plano and wanted him to be a part of it. He accepted the challenge.
In 2008 they opened a small space in a strip mall but quickly outgrew it. On April 1, 2011 they relocated Minnie's Food Pantry (named after Cheryl's mother Minnie Ewing) to the current location at Independence and Parker. Soon they will be relocating yet again to a 10,000-square-foot space on the diagonal corner.
Today RJ makes his way back to the office for this interview and hands his mom a drink from Starbucks, which she takes with a beautiful smile and a thank-you. He was just at Starbucks, picking up yesterday's pastries to serve to their clients.
Watching the easy interchange between mother and son, the first question is an obvious one: How is it for a 25-year-old guy to work with his mom? "Well," RJ laughs and looks at Cheryl, "it's great. We both have a passion for what we do. We are feeding people who are hungry, who need help, and that's important to both of us."
Before she heads out the door, Cheryl interjects, "And he's like me, he is a people-person. We love people and we enjoy helping people."
They are alike in other ways, too: engaging, optimistic, fun, motivated, accepting, and very confident. All these traits serve RJ well as Director of Communications. In that role, he helps build relationships and works with executives and corporations like Pepsico, Walmart, Market Street, Whole Foods, TGIFridays (who donated a large delivery truck), Pasco (who donated commercial refrigerators and freezers), and even his former employer, Bank of America. There are many more partners, too many to list.
They also work with churches and schools. Today, as on most Wednesdays, students from the all-male college prep school Jesuit Dallas are here volunteering. Wearing school monogrammed polo shirts, the young men are polite and busy.
Asked how this volunteer work impacts the students, RJ answers, "Whether it's somebody coming from a private school to donate their time, or it is somebody who has gotten in trouble and needs to do community service hours, everybody is on the same playing field here. Everybody has a chance to see how fortunate they really are. You recognize you're not the only person here and whatever your needs are—and they may be significant—there is somebody else who needs something, too. The moment you stop thinking about yourself and do something for someone else...and it's genuine and you see the appreciation and gratitude... it should bring a sense of joy and happiness to your heart, to your spirit. And when it does, there's an ah-ha moment. So when people get that moment, it's like, 'Okay, this is what we are supposed to be doing.' "
A lot of people have taken notice of the work they are doing. Minnie's Food Pantry was featured on ABC World News with Diane Sawyer, and Cheryl has appeared on Dr. Oz, Good Morning America, Good Morning Texas, WFAA Fox 4, and CBS News. She also met and interviewed Oprah Winfrey, someone Cheryl greatly admires.
While moments of fame are fun and very important in raising awareness about their work, it's the day-to-day impact they make on the lives of the people in this community that keeps them motivated. Minnie's Food Pantry has provided some 600,000 meals, over 2.5 million pounds of food, to more than 125,000 people in need since they began their program.
Can he recall any stories or people that really touched his heart?
"There are so many on a daily basis," he mulls over the questions, "but in particular, there is a blind woman who lives nearby, and she walks here using her cane. She still comes occasionally. She's one of the most gracious, one of the nicest ladies you could ever meet in your life. She has a beautiful daughter that is maybe 10 or 12 years old. She doesn't feel sorry for herself, she just does whatever she needs to do, goes about her business. She'll even carry her own boxes home, but I won't let her. I'll drive her home."
He continues, "This woman does not have her sight, but still finds a way to take care of her family, to take care of herself. And when she doesn't have the means to do so, when they lack what they need and she has to find ways to make up the difference, that's where we come in. That's why we are here. It is so easy to complain about things, even small things, but this woman has a gorgeous daughter that she cannot see."
This is particularly poignant to RJ, who has a little girl himself. "My daughter, Camille, is one-and-a-half years old, and her picture is in 17 McDonald stores [for a food campaign]. Talk about a proud father! She is already starting a legacy of teaching other children. She doesn't understand it yet, but she is being put on a platform to be a leader in the future. She can be a leader of anything she wants. The question will be, What message do you want to bring across? What is it that you hope to do? For us, for my family, it is simply to help people and to unite people. There is no community if there is no unity.
RJ embraces his role in this community. His heartfelt belief that no matter your age, your circumstances, your needs, or your successes, we are a community. And every chance he gets, by offering a hug, giving a box of food, or a making a presentation to corporate executives, he broadens and unites his community.
This month, the community has a chance to give back at the 5th Annual Feed Just One Gala on Monday, November 11, at the Westin Stonebriar Resort in Frisco. Honorary chairs will be longtime advocates of Minnie's Food Pantry Torii and Katrina Hunter of the Detroit Tigers. TGIFriday's is the corporate sponsor, and Michelle Williams, former Destiny's Child, will be hosting the event. The gala will be great fun for a great cause.
Minnie's Food Pantry is located at 3198 W. Parker Rd. in Plano. For tickets ($150) to the gala or other information, visit minniesfoodpantry.org or call 972.596.0253.
