DFW Food Pantry Founder Invited To Watch "Belief" With Oprah
Follow CBSDFW.COM: Facebook | Twitter
PLANO (CBSDFW.COM) - Minnie's Food Pantry in Plano has gone from struggling charity to booming nonprofit. But they went big time on Sunday night after meeting up with one of the most powerful women in the world.
Cheryl 'Action' Jackson is a celebrity of sorts in the North Texas area, especially to those who need her help the most. Jackson works to feed thousands of people through the food pantry that she started in 2008 with her mother. Minnie's Food Pantry is now gaining attention from actual celebrities.
"I've met a few people along the way who have helped us," Jackson said.
Stars like Rihanna and Jim Parsons from "The Big Bang Theory" have all shown up to help out. "Imagine the people that were here receiving boxes from Jim Parsons and Rihanna," Jackson said.
But most recently, Jackson gained help from another familiar face. Oprah Winfrey flew Jackson to Chicago to be part of a new series called "Belief" on the OWN network. The series debuted on Sunday night.
Believing is something that Jackson learned to do from her mother, Miss Minnie, who passed away earlier this year. "I started it on April Fool's Day 2008, naming it after my mother," Jackson said about her food pantry, fighting back tears. At that time, Minnie's Food Pantry was just trying to stay open, gaining momentum and feeding the few people that they could.
Several successful years later, with assistance from some heavy helping hands, Jackson said that it can still be hard to meet all of the needs, especially during the holidays. And this year will be different for Jackson, since it will be the first holiday without her mother. "But we will serve in her honor," Jackson said. "She was an incredible woman."
Click here to learn more about Minnie's Food Pantry and to find out how you can donate.