Shanda Johnson
Founder, The Rick Miller Foundation, Inc.
Faith Based, Mission Driven: How The Rick Miller Organization is Nourishing New York
by Jordana Landres
Shanda Johnson has a hunger to alleviate hunger. As the founder of The Rick Miller Foundation, she’s a one-woman food insecurity relief operation and embodies the term humanitarian entrepreneur. Working in partnership with Whole Foods, Chipotle, Longhorn Steakhouse, KFC, Insomnia Cookies, SSP Restaurants, Red Lobster, 7-Eleven and Olive Garden, and Bowery Mission, she supplies food and other essentials (toiletries and other personal care items) to seniors, domestic violence survivors, and others throughout NYC’s five boroughs on top of a full-time job as a crime victim advocate in Queens.
NY1 recently featured Shanda as a New Yorker of the Week for her commitment.
A Mission Death Brought to Life
Shanda founded The Rick Miller Foundation in 2016 to honor her father’s memory and charitable acts. “I recall having a conversation with my dad about us being able to pick up KFC donations. I thought Wow, we made it. We’re now helping feed a community.” The 500 Men organization recently recognized her with their Contemporary Giant award. Member police Officer Dilla, whom she met at a church event, was the first to encourage Shanda’s ambition to make a difference.
The Desire to Thrive Isn’t Entitlement or Ingratitude
Inflation pressure can leave people excluded to death. Sustenance itself is becoming a luxury item. Shanda isn’t having it.
“Why should our quality of life be limited or compromised by the quality of food we can afford?” she asks. “I feel other people’s hunger pains. If I couldn’t do this work, I wouldn’t want to live.”
Those resources are currently piled high and spilling over in her mom’s kitchen, currently serving as a temporary warehouse. “My mother literally let me take over her house,” she laughs.
Shanda’s next goals are to acquire a van and open a 24-hour warehouse.
“Hunger doesn’t stop. It’s a full time job.”
Set Up To Fail?
When you’re struggling to get on your feet, being cut off from eating well and regularly can make it feel like they’re being cut from under you. Every day of the week, Shanda is tirelessly working to connect some of the best quality food available to those who need it most, providing service on demand. “One of my families in need of food contacted me, and Olive Garden fulfilled the request immediately.”
With her at the helm of The Rick Miller Foundation, not only do the New Yorkers Shanda serves know where their next meal is coming from, they know it’ll be certified organic, too. “God chose to trust me with this food, these resources. Nothing is going to come between me and feeding somebody.”
Kahlil Gibran wrote in The Prophet, “Work is love made visible.”
Shanda Johnson is love on call.
Upcoming Events:
August 14: The Rick Miller Foundation with Bowery Mission, Giveaway, Tompkins Square Park, 11am New York, NY 10008
August 26: Summer Block Party, Community Giveaway, South Jamaica, Queens
Shore Avenue & Yates Road Jamaica, NY 11434
August 30: P.S. 103, Bronx, New York, Back To School Giveaways
4125 Carpenter Avenue Bronx, New York 10466
