It doesn’t matter who you are, this week's New Yorker is all about making sure healthy and organic food is accessible to everyone, especially for those who are struggling most.

What You Need To Know

  • Shanda Johnson first started with her father traveling around to deliver food to those in need

  • Now Shanda does it all alone as she drives around the city picking up food and toiletries. Some of her partners include Whole Foods, Insomnia Cookie, and Long Horn Steak House

  • Shanda says she won't ever stop, feeling that no one should ever have to worry about going hungry or how they will feed their family

“My father was a community person so one of the things he would always do is give back,” said Shanda Johnson.

Shanda Johnson can still remember passing out Kentucky Fried Chicken to those in need with her father.

“We thought we had made it. We were like, 'Yes!'" Johnson said. "Just getting that amount of food.”

Now Johnson helps hundreds of New Yorkers each week in her father’s name.

“I guess our motto would be: We Live to Give.”

After a full day at work, Johnson climbs into her car to start her five-hour journey.

“Because hunger never stops.”

Partnering with Whole Foods, Long Horn Steakhouse, and Insomnia Cookie, Johnson picks up food to distribute to shelters and senior centers across New York City.

“I think when you eat healthy, you feel healthy. You think healthy. Your decisions are healthy. Everything changes," Johnson said. "I don’t want to sound hypocritical when I say this but we are going from Whole Foods to insomnia cookies…you know what, it’s okay to have a cookie and then you follow it with a salad.”

Along with the food, Johnson also picks up toiletries. She jokes that her house has quickly become a Whole Foods warehouse.

“I would never stop. I can’t. I feel the hunger pains for other people. I can’t see leaving food, knowing that people are in need. Like the worst feeling for me is knowing that right this moment, there’s someone looking up at the ceiling asking, ‘How am I going to feed my family?’” said Johnson.

Though Shanda is currently a one woman team, she hopes to own a warehouse one day to allow for her efforts to expand even further.

“This is my life. I can’t imagine doing anything different. It’s never even been a thought in my mind,” Johnson said.

For driving out hunger, Shanda Johnson is our New Yorker of the Week.