By: Emily Grant, Director of Operations
Chris Cameron, Founder of Fisher of Menistry
Chris grew up with a love of fishing that he got from his father and grandfather and started Fired Up Fishing Charters in 2007. Last year he started giving out food to his local community in Orlando and formed the Fisher of Menistry in 2025.
1. We're curious - how has the food from our program been helping you feed your community? Any pleasant surprises along the way?
So when I first got it in my heart to feed people – about a year ago – I got in contact with you. I talked to a buddy of mine and said, “I am going to do this [feed people].” He said “how?” And then I found you all.
I started this because my life changed over a year ago. I found God, and my life completely changed. Back then, I wasn’t who I am now. Now I want to go and love on other people. I [specifically] wanted to love on the homeless – some who are there by choice and others who are not. I saw kids on the streets with their families who would share stories of not being able to pay rent. A while ago, that could have been me, if I didn’t have family help me out [so I can relate to their situation].
I learned how folks got in that situation, and there is no judgement. I wanted to feed people.
I wanted to give them the Bread of Life and feed them. Once I got food donations, I started to go into the community and drive around. I was that guy, pulling over and running across a 3 lane road with a box of food to reach people. I would get names of who I met and I kept track of them in a notebook.
Now that it’s been about a year, I know where many folks are hanging out, so I bring two carts [to carry the food] and even my kids come to help and hand out food. I go about 4 times a week to different places. I learned where and when I could go and folks would light up and say: “Hey Chris, I was hoping you would come by today, and I am so glad you did.”
I usually serve about 10-20 people at a time. I collect bags from neighbors, so they can take what they want and thank God for all the food today. I help feed a couple hundred people a week.
Sometimes when I get a lot of stuff, I deliver it to a women’s facility, a rehab facility, or The Russell Home for Atypical Children. These places can take larger quantities of milk or produce and have the facilities to use them.
2. What donated goodies seem to bring the biggest smiles to people's faces? Any unexpected favorites?
[All the food] has its place – a lot of the need is based on weather and time of day. Right now in the summer, I buy a lot of water since it’s so hot. In the early evenings, I will see more folks come out and make hot dogs and hamburgers. When school was in session, I would use the donated items like corn to go with it.
While I do pay a lot out of pocket for things like the hot dogs and hamburgers, I am getting additional food donations from other nonprofit organizations who might have surplus – it’s a great connection.
3. If you could wave a magic wand and get more of one type of donation, what would it be? What would make the biggest difference for your folks?
Water. It’s the cheapest thing, but this is what they need. I can buy 10 cases, and they will be gone at the end of the day. I like to put the cases in the deep freezer and then hand them out, but I could use a lot more.
We could also use more prepared food.
Right now, I have a stockpile of dried goods and snacks. Later today, I am going to make sandwiches and hand those out.
4. Mind sharing a heartwarming moment you've witnessed thanks to these donations? We love hearing the real stories behind the meals!
I will give you two. One short and one long.
The short one: I take my kids and friends to volunteer with me and help hand out the food. We sometimes get surrounded when we show up – people are ready to eat! And then once everything is handed out, we look out and see folks content with their meals, like they are having a little picnic. It’s very gratifying.
The long one: About 5 months ago, I met Priscilla. Like I said, I like to pray for people, but I don’t push it. One day, I started early around 7am and drove around and started handing out food. I was driving back to Apopka, and this one woman who looked like she was having a rough and stressful day asked me: “do you have any food left?” And I said “yes.” I asked her if she wanted to take a bag for her kid and she shared that she hadn’t had her daughter in months because she wasn’t testing clean. Then we started talking and I shared part of my story as an alcoholic, and [before you know it] we were both crying. I gave her the food and we prayed.
Two months later, I was back at the same park and she walked up to me, and I said, “Hey Priscilla. Do you remember me? You look great. What’s going on?” And she said “I am clean! Do you think I could have another bag for my daughter?” And I said, “You got your daughter back?” And she replied: “Yes. I have been clean ever since the day we met and prayed.”
That is what keeps me going.
Interested in sharing your partnership story or being featured by FoodRecovery.org? Reach out at hello@foodrecovery.org!