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Released On:
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
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Cheryl Jackson
TheGivingMovement.org
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MINNIES FOOD PANTRY GRAND OPENING
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Mayor Pat Evans was on hand to name Aug. 26 Cheryl Jackson Day and Minnie’s Food Pantry Day in honor of the 40th birthday of Cheryl Jackson, a Plano resident who opened a non-profit food pantry in honor of her mother, Minnie Ewing.
Jackson created The Giving Movement and Minnie’s Food Pantry in honor of her mother because she remembers helping her parents in community efforts as a young girl.
“Growing up, our home should’ve had a revolving door because my parents constantly gave food, clothes and their time and prayers to the community and members of our congregation,” Jackson recalled. “Parents need to realize that their kids are listening and watching their every movement. I listened to and watched my mother and now I want to walk in her footsteps.”
Minnie’s Food Pantry has been open for more than two months and has already served more than 700 people. The economy has been harsh on many Plano residents and Minnie’s Food Pantry services are open to anybody who comes seeking help.
“My mom taught me not to judge, so The Giving Movement is dedicated to providing food, friendly smiles and support to people regardless of race, color, creed or religion,” Jackson said.
It didn’t take long for Jackson to arrange Thanksgiving dinner for 150 families with an anonymous donor. Families who are in need and interested in receiving the Thanksgiving dinners need to contact Minnie’s Food Pantry for more information.
The Giving Movement has also teamed with Stratmark, Ltd. in Richardson to feed more than 1,500 families in the North Dallas area with food from two semi-trailers from Feed The Children, a Christian non-profit relief organization headquartered in Oklahoma City.
Jackson expects Minnie’s Food Pantry client-base to grow over the years. Jackson described The Giving Movement as the spark what will ignite “philanthropic fires” across cities in North Texas and eventually across the nation.
“It is a real effort that is funded by a family coming together to make a difference in the community,” Jackson said.
“There is nothing that Webster has written to convey my pride in Cheryl and everything she’s accomplished,” said Jackson’s mother, Minnie Ewing. “As a parent, you never realize that your kids are listening that much. She took my dream and brought it to this magnitude. I am proud to be her mother.”
Ewing said Cheryl’s tenacious personality took the family’s tradition to a whole new level.
“She’s even sharing her birthday with people, which says a lot in itself,” Ewing said. “And this is just the beginning. I can only wonder what will come in the next 40 years.”
Ewing currently serves as the pastor of DayStar Deliverance Ministry in Richardson and created the non-profit organization, The Touch Ministry, in honor of her mother.
“The Touch Ministry is the church’s benevolent ministry which gives to people in need,” Ewing said. “Very similar to Minnie’s Food Pantry, but on a much smaller scale.”
To continue with the family tradition of helping the community, Jackson recruited her 20-year-old son Robert “RJ” Jackson, who is gladly volunteering alongside his mother and grandmother.
“When you think of volunteerism and philanthropy, you typically see older faces,” RJ said. “I would like to reach out to the younger community and not only inspire them to help, but to find more families in need.”
RJ graduated from Plano Senior High School in 2006 and plans on recruiting help from as many friends and former schoolmates as he can.
Cheryl and RJ travel together to give inspirational speeches about the importance of philanthropy at schools and churches around the area.
“You’d be surprised with the amount of children who are willing to help after we speak,” RJ said. “It is wonderful to be able to work with inspired kids who bring more energy in wanting to spread love and joy into the community.”
Jackson said the biggest benefit in using RJ as “the face of The Giving Movement” and Minnie’s Food Pantry is to inspire the upcoming generations to give back to the community.
“Many of the kids I’ve met want to help unconditionally and unfortunately they will grow out of it,” RJ said. “We want to encourage them to keep giving to the community and inspire their children in the future.”
Ewing, Jackson and RJ not only inspire the children they speak with, but their friends as well.
Jackson’s close friend Erica Simon quit a lucrative position with a prominent finance company in Dallas to take the executive director position with The Giving Movement.
“I was so touched when I received her phone call,” Jackson said. “She told me that she believed enough in me to leave it all behind.”
Minnie’s Food Pantry serves low income families, single parents, senior citizens, unemployed individuals, disabled veterans, the working poor and anyone that comes to the pantry that needs assistance. Clients must provide valid identification and complete a one page confidential form that helps the Food pantry track its resources.
According to the Web site, The Giving Movement is a non-profit organization that was established to honor a living legend Minnie Ewing. TGM educates and fosters charitable giving and philanthropy in schools and in the community. TGM serves the needs of children and their families that live in impoverished areas and that rely on assistance for something as simple as their next meal. Through partnership programs The Giving Movement is able to meet the needs of people.
The Giving Movement Organization has partnered with The Touch Ministry, Wal-Mart, DayStar Deliverance Ministry, Sisters of Savings, Feed the Children, AJAX Professional Service, Dr. Amy Wood and Big Brothers, Big Sisters in a direct response for the need to Reclaim, Recover and Rebuild communities. Through education of our children and assisting the adults the Giving Movement is making an impact on our nation.
Minnie’s Food Pantry is located at 3100 Independence Parkway, Suite 217 in Plano.
More information on Minnie’s Food Pantry and The Giving Movement Organization can be found online at www.TheGivingMovement.org.
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