Michael Johnson, Sr. was born and raised in Owensboro and spent 23 years of his life serving his country in the United States Navy. Johnson spent the majority of his time in food service in the Navy Supply Corps. That call to service led him to not only become an ordained minister, but to return to Owensboro to feed the bodies and souls of the community’s homeless.
Founded in 2015, Truth Outreach is a faith-based nonprofit organization that provides food, clothing and personal hygiene products to the needy in the Owensboro community. Beyond the necessities, the organization also provides clothing, such as shirts and ties for men in order to look presentable at job interviews.
“We are really working hard to try to help the homeless in our community,” Johnson said. “We try to help them have a hand up rather than a handout.”
Truth Outreach is a mobile organization that utilizes an enclosed trailer rather than a brick and mortar store to reach the homeless where they are.
“We go to them and take them the basic necessities,” Johnson said. “I’ve been all over the world [with the Navy] and I’ve seen everything you could imagine, and what can work and what doesn’t work.”
Johnson believes community events designed to educate others about the homeless that he and his organization have encountered and have come to know will work in helping to change the stigma of the homeless in the community.
“Something happened in a homeless person’s life to cause them to be homeless,” Johnson said. “The more we can educate the community, the more they will know what signs to look for.”
This Saturday, June 1, Truth Outreach will hold their second annual Community Fellowship Day at Max Rhoads Park on West 7th Street from 5-8 p.m.
This is a time, Johnson said, for the homeless of the community to come enjoy themselves, relax, enjoy a meal and fellowship with others in the community. Johnson will speak at the event, discuss the importance of stress awareness and has arranged for some to share their individual testimonies.
Johnson has extended the invitation to law enforcement and first responders as well in the hopes for the two to connect in a non-threatening environment.
“This event is an opportunity for the community to come together and unite public service with them as well,” Johnson said. “If they can enjoy one good day of happiness — that one day can change somebody’s life.”
Johnson agrees that homelessness does not discriminate based on age, gender or ethnicity.
“The homeless come from all walks of life,” Johnson said. “Homelessness impacts all of us in some way or another.”
Citing his background in food service, Johnson has found joy in cooking and preparing meals for others.
“So feeding people is my job,” he said. “I also cook at the Pitino Shelter — I do whatever I can to make it a really nice meal for them.”
On the first Sunday of each month, Johnson prepares what he refers to as “five-star meals” for those dining at the shelter. Such meals may consist of beef stroganoff or Salisbury steak with all of the fixings.
Johnson has also noticed through his efforts that there is a growing need to assist the seniors of the Owensboro community.
“We’ve been seeing an influx of the elderly needing help – we also deliver personal hygiene items to shut-ins,” Johnson said, adding that Truth Outreach is a Christian-based organization and, as an ordained minister, he often prays for people and leads them spiritually as well.
Regardless of age, occupation or financial status, Johnson believes that anyone can make a difference if they take the time to look around them.
“I live right back in the same area where I grew up,” Johnson said. “I saw a need a few years back and made a determination that I was going to help the people in our community — even if it’s one person at a time. It’s a blessing to be able to help my community.”
Max Rhoads Park is located at 616 Walnut St.
