Cavalier Johnson serves Christmas Eve meals for people in need
MILWAUKEE - For the first time in 17 years, Milwaukee celebrated Christmas Eve with a new mayor.
Acting Mayor Cavalier Johnson spent some of the day with a group serving free meals
"There are folks in this community who are looking out and doing the right thing and trying to serve people in this community in need every single day, so I wanted to make sure I honored that," Johnson said.
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The Gathering, which has the motto "feeding the hungry, keeping hearts full," serves 60,000 meals a year, assisted by the work of more than 1,500 volunteers a year.
"It’s been really fun because I like that I know I am helping people," said 9-year-old volunteer Xavier Williams. "Some people don’t have this stuff and I’m happy to be serving them."
Acting Mayor Cavalier Johnson helps serve Christmas Eve meals at The Gathering
Also serving on this Christmas Eve: two recent graduates of Mount Mary University, who started volunteering as students and continued after graduating.
"Immediately when we started volunteering here, it has a real sense of family and community, and the people that work here, and then the people who come and visit, they are in need," volunteer Evita Evers said. "It’s a good feeling to contribute in any way possible."
This Christmas, volunteers received that gift through giving.
"This is the season of giving," Johnson said, "This is the season of giving back."
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After gathering at The Gathering, Johnson will spend Christmas Eve at home with a new title beside dad – mayor.
"It’s been an incredible couple of days and weeks, so I have not wrapped a single gift," Johnson said. "I will be spending all afternoon – if the kids take a nap –if– and all night wrapping gifts. My wife, Dominique, and I will be doing that and then we get three kids who are going to be really surprised on Christmas Day tomorrow. I’m looking forward to that."
With COVID-19 cases rises, we asked Johnson about that topic, as the city's teachers union, the Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association, has asked him to act, and for months has pushed for the city to reinstate a mask mandate.
"I’m not going to talk about that today," Acting Mayor Johnson responded. "There are people doing great things in Milwaukee every single day, and I’m here to join a number of them this morning, spreading some holiday cheer and doing great things for the people who live in the city."
He added that he did plan to talk to the city's health commissioner soon about options the city can use to fight COVID-19. He also urged people to get vaccinated and get tested before gatherings.
The Gathering is now on a Christmas break. The next meal will be served on Jan 3. If you are interested in volunteering or picking up a meal, visit The Gathering's website.
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