As a 7-year-old girl, Esther Ortega Johnson often woke up early on weekends during cold weather, bundled up in warm clothes and made her way to downtown Los Angeles with family members. Their journey was for a special purpose: to provide a hot meal to anyone in need on the streets.
“My dad would organize my extended family to make tacos and hot chocolate and pass the #food and beverages out to anyone looking for something to eat,” said Johnson, a store manager now living in San Antonio, Texas. “That was my first experience with homelessness and hunger.”
Soon, more family members and friends learned about the effort and joined in.
“We weren’t working for any particular organization, we were simply helping people in need,” Johnson said. “That’s how my parents raised me and my siblings. If you’re able to provide for other people, then it’s your responsibility to make sure that you do.”
That experience as a child had a decided impact on Johnson, who is one of several #starbucks partners (employees) supporting the company’s effort to expand its FoodShare program to San Antonio and Houston. Through this program, surplus #food at local Starbucks® stores will be donated to local Feeding America agencies. #starbucks will celebrate these stores joining the FoodShare program today (February 21) with a volunteer event at the San Antonio #food Bank, the local partner in this market
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