From the Miami Herald, writers Andrea Robinson and Carli Teproff profile the child with a big heart.
Three years later, at the ripe-old-age of 8, Joshua Christopher Williams is president of Joshua's Heart, a foundation that tackles an issue daunting to most adults. At least once every two months you can find Josh and his staff -- mom, grandma, aunts and other volunteers -- feeding homeless and low-income families somewhere in Miami-Dade County.
``He just made up his mind that this is what he wanted to do,'' said his mom, Claudia McLean. ``And there is no stopping him.''
In the two years since he created his nonprofit organization, the Miami Beach boy has collected thousands of dollars in donations and led a growing band of adults to feed thousands of people throughout North and Central Miami-Dade: Liberty City, North Miami, Miami Gardens, Little Haiti and Hialeah. He has used money from the organization to help renovate a teen center in Hallandale Beach, lobbied local governments for financial help, set up shop at community festivals and won several awards -- including Miami-Dade County's Do the Right Thing award and a $1,000 scholarship prize as one of the regional winners of Kohl's Kids Who Care annual competition.
``He is a blessing from God,'' said Earl Laird, who came to get food during a recent Joshua's Heart distribution at the Church of God of Prophecy in Miami Gardens. Laird said he receives disability checks and depends on the food to help him get through tough times.
``It's amazing that such a little boy can do something like this,'' he said.
On a recent Friday, the curly-haired boy donned white latex gloves -- big enough for another set of hands to fit inside -- and took his place in front of a tower of canned pasta in the church's meeting room.
He grabbed a can of spaghetti and meat sauce and waited for his first client.
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