Minnie's Food Pantry expands to Plano headquarters

Cheryl Jackson announced her non-profit is moving into a new, larger headquarters in Plano. She hopes the added room will help her help more people in our area.

Jackson shared her vision on Thursday of the vacant building that will soon become the new home of Minnie's Food Pantry.  She unveiled a sign out front symbolizing the latest milestone for the charity bearing her late mother's name.

A year ago, media mogul Oprah Winfrey helped Jackson raise money and awareness for the pantry. Though there were many pledges, Jackson says most are still trickling in.

The operating space dilemma prompted Bill Cawley, a real estate developer and volunteer, to get involved.

"My family and I came on Thanksgiving day to experience her giving away the food for Thanksgiving meals, and it was a life changer for us,” he said.

Cawley purchased the building in Plano for Minnie's Food Pantry. And over time, Minnie's will buy the property from Cawley outright.

Jackson says the timing of it all was more than fate, but a blessing.

"Why would he be there on the day, the only day that he would come and volunteer for the year, and he's there when the realtor says we're not going to renew your lease,” she said. "I brought him here. He looked around and said, ‘Did God say this was your building?’ I said yes. He said, ‘Okay, then this will be your building.’ The broker called three days later and said he purchased the building for you."

As the recipient of a 2019 Sun Club grant, Minnie’s will receive a solar power system to reduce its carbon footprint and to mitigate some costs associated with increased utility bills in a larger home.