The following article was released by the Food Bank of Central Louisiana on Monday, May 3rd: 

Billy Johnson is a retiree who volunteers in the food pantry at Helping Hands Storefront Ministries in Leesville. When we went to Helping Hands to talk about the pantry’s partnership with Walmart, we had no idea that Billy would bring the story full circle.

Like several food pantries across Central Louisiana, this ministry receives food donated through Walmart’s Retail Recovery Program.

“Walmart’s been good to us, it really has.” And he should know.

After Billy retired from the Army in 1984, he went to work at the local Walmart, pushing shopping carts. He worked his way up to department manager, assistant manager, then he had his own store.

Billy managed the Walmart store in Ferriday, “a little bitty store surrounded by soy beans,” until he retired after nearly 20 years with the company.

Now back in Leesville, Billy draws on his experiences and relationships to help Walmart feed the hungry at Helping Hands.

[Saturday] wrapped up the annual Walmart and Sam's Club "Fight Hunger. Spark Change." campaign. And the Food Bank wants to thank everyone for helping in the fight against hunger – all the food pantries serving people every day; the grocery stores that donate food to the pantries; donors who support the cause in communities across the region; volunteers like Billy and all those who labor to feed others; and everyone who shares a meal with a neighbor in need. Thank you. We will alleviate hunger in Cena. Together.

This article originally appeared on Leesville Daily Leader: Food Bank recognizes volunteer and Vietnam War veteran Billy Johnson's service