For the fifth year, Selma City Councilman Michael Johnson will be preparing free Thanksgiving meals for people throughout the community.

“This is not just for my ward,” said Johnson, who represents Ward 8. “This is for everybody.”

Johnson was disappointed that he was unable to cook for the community last year, but he’s looking forward to getting back into action this year.

“It hurt my heart that I wasn’t able to do it last year,” Johnson said. “But Thursday is my birthday and I’ll be celebrating by giving out love to the people that need it.”

When Johnson first started the effort, just over 100 people showed up to grab a meal. Since then, the amount has ballooned to more than 300 people and Johnson is prepared to feed as many as possible.

As well as serving food out of the Selma Avenue Sports Bar and Grill, located at 1809 Selma Avenue, Johnson will be loading up cars to deliver meals to those who are unable to make the trip.

“We just spread the love out,” Johnson said.

In previous years, Johnson has had to return to get more food for larger families and has never had a problem doing it.

“Last year, we scraped the pans,” Johnson said. “I felt bad because we ran out.”

Along with members of the community, he and a host of volunteers will be delivering meals to first responders working on Thanksgiving.

Johnson stressed that the effort is not his alone. After realizing that Johnson was cooking all of the food in-house at the restaurant, members of Selma Community Baptist Church stepped up to assist with cooking. Local people donated money and food for the effort and Johnson’s sons step up to help with delivering food.

“This is not a Michael Johnson thing and it’s not a city council thing,” Johnson said. “It’s a community thing.”

According to Johnson, food service will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday morning and will last until the food is gone.