EVERETT — If you have a piece of bread, share it.
Sheila Johnson lives by this principle her grandmother had taught her.
On the third Saturday of each month, Johnson, 54, goes out to Smith Avenue by the Everett Gospel Mission and serves more than 100 home-cooked meals to the homeless.
Her mother, Esther, her grown children and a few friends are usually there helping.
This month, Johnson plans to give out some small gifts for Father’s Day — kits with shaving cream and other inexpensive items.
“Even though they are staying in a shelter, they are still fathers, they are still human, and they still deserve a gift,” she said. “Why not make their day? That’s the way I look at it.”
Johnson started her ministry six years ago. She was moved to action after hearing her church choir perform a song about sharing. She served her first meal on Smith Avenue not long after that.
A typical meal might include turkey and gravy, chicken, yams, potato and macaroni salads, pop and some kind of dessert. Each volunteer picks something from the menu to cook.
Johnson likes to keep track of how many people she serves by the number of paper plates and plastic utensils she uses. It’s sobering to realize how many homeless people really are out there, she said.
Before Johnson’s crew leave for their mission, they pray for good weather. “All six years, we’ve had nothing but good weather,” she said.
Johnson’s son, Julian Willis, 21, the youngest of five children, joined the volunteers for the first time last month. He couldn’t volunteer before, because he was away at college and recently returned to Everett.
“It was a really great experience. It makes you appreciate what you have,” he said.
Johnson moved to Everett in 1976 from California. She learned the value of family and sharing after she found herself a young single mother. She taught her five children to stick together and help each other. All five live close to Johnson’s south Everett home. She has 10 grandchildren. A host of other young relatives and family friends address her as “Mom” or “Momma Sheila.”
Johnson dreams about expanding her meals on Smith Avenue. She’d like to serve twice a month, or maybe even every weekend. She’d like to open a soup kitchen and a small clothing bank. She is looking into registering a nonprofit organization to accomplish that. Of course, she would need to find a place and more people to help.
“You know the TV show ‘Secret Millionaire’? I keep hoping that one day someone will show up and say: ‘This is your lucky day. I’ve got a kitchen for you,’ ” she said.
Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452; kyefimova@heraldnet.com.
How to help
Sheila Johnson and her crew serve meals on Smith Avenue near the Everett Gospel Mission at 10 a.m. on the third Saturday of every month.
To get in touch with them, email julianewillis12@gmail.com.
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