In 1989 Johnnie Alexander founded Alexander's Gleaner of the Harvest Ministry. Operating out of a small warehouse on his farm, today he helps feed 220 families and 600 individuals a month.

FORT WHITE, Fla. – Laying in a hospital bed coping with the loss of both legs, Johnnie Alexander struggled to understand why his life turned out the way it did.

During his first tour in Vietnam, he was captured at Perfume River and held as a prisoner of war for 163 days. After being rescued by the US Army's 1st Calvary, he volunteered for a second tour of duty.

After three months in-country, Johnnie was hit by enemy fire, which left him temporarily paralyzed. Worse, he lost both his legs. For more than four years, he stayed in the hospital working to overcome the pain and paralysis as he completed his physical therapy.

In his transition back to regular life, Johnnie returned home to Florida and opened a small grocery store.

When he caught a few local elderly customers stealing food, he asked them why they were doing it. When they told him their fixed income didn't allow for necessary items, Johnnie decided to take on a new mission: sell his store and help people in need.

"I can do anything anyone else can do," Johnnie said. "I just do it a little differently."

In 1989 he founded Alexander's Gleaner of the Harvest Ministry. Operating out of a small warehouse on his farm, today Johnnie helps feed 220 families and 600 individuals a month as well as works with the Veterans Administration to distribute food and other supplies to vets in need.

He is able to fund his food outreach in part through his disability pension as well as the support of Operation Blessing's dock ministry in Ocala, Florida.

Once a month Johnnie and other OBI networking partners come to the Ocala warehouse docks to pick up food and relief product. Since November, OBI's dock ministries in Fla. and Va. have handed out more than 370,000 lbs. of food and supplies to partnering ministries.

Whatever the need, Johnnie refuses to let his disability slow him down, driving trucks, operating forklifts and doing whatever else is necessary to fulfill his mission to feed the hungry.

"I can do anything anyone else can do," Johnnie said. "I just do it a little differently."

HOW YOU CAN HELP
Every day, the fleet of Hunger Strike Force trucks is on the road, delivering nutritious food and essential supplies to thousands facing hunger and poverty. With your help, we can continue to impact lives and give hope to those who need it most. Please make an online donation today.

 

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