CRESTVIEW — Gary Johnson wants to feed more than 250 people on Thanksgiving, but he'll need some help.
Lunch will be served from 12:30-2 p.m. Nov. 27 at Johnson and his wife, Doris', 1865 E. First Ave., home. It'll be quite a feast, with turkey and ham, candied yams, sweet potato pies, collard greens and homemade dressing, he said.
That is, it will be if North Okaloosa residents provide all those items, along with paper plates and utensils, to the retired food inspector. Just give him the food — he estimates it'll take about 15 turkeys — and he'll prepare the meals, the master chef said. Doris and other volunteers will help with preparation.
The event is one of Johnson's efforts to resurrect Brotherhood of Love, his nonprofit outreach ministry that flourished for years when he lived in the Miami and Thomasville, Ga., areas.
Last year, Thomasville's Thanksgiving meal fed more than 550 people, he said. Numerous news reports tout the ministry's other events, including an Easter Eggstravaganza and the Dreamland Christmas, which provided meals, clothes and toys for needy residents.
Johnson, a First Baptist Church of Holt member who recently moved to Crestview, received a letter of recognition from Florida City Mayor Otis T. Wallace, who said he "has worked to help in the establishment of good government, participated in projects to feed the hungry and provides assistance to anyone in distress."
It's Johnson's life's mission: to do God's work, bring the Gospel to others, and inspire them to leave a life of crime.
"We want to go in the communities, break up the dope houses, the gangs — all of this," he said. "Anything that's illegal and unlawful and a downfall to the community, the Brotherhood of Love is gonna help the city get rid of that."
HOW TO HELP
Call Johnson, 229-379-1741 or 398-0272, if you can provide food for his community Thanksgiving feast
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Can you help this Crestview man serve 250 Thanksgiving meals? (VIDEO)