KILLEEN, TX — Thousands are strugging due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But still, many are finding ways to give back any way they can.
A Hidden Hero out of Killeen is helping his neighborhood using something that was supposed to help him. More importantly, he's hoping his neighbors feel seen.
Dozens of volunteers grilled food and handed out to-go plates.
It was a cookout to help others and bring people together.
"This is something where they are able to get outside, still stay safe and feel like they are apart of something normal again," Mellisa Brown, a volunteer said.
But there was one man behind it all.
His name is Ron Kearny.
"I've lived here a long time. I work and I try to take care of my neighbors whenever I can," he said.
Even if that means giving away his stimulus check which is exactly what he did.
"I decided to just go shopping and help my neighbors. These are my friends, these are my neighbors, these are people I love, I care about," Kearny said.
He used every penny of his stimulus money to buy food and soda.
Kearny, then, rounded up volunteers and fed nearly 150 people.
"I figured, I could use it but everybody can use it. They need it more than I do," he said. "There are people literally starving."
"Everyone around here calls it the forgotten neighborhood. They don't get a lot of help from the city. Nobody really pays attention over here so if it's not for them giving back to themselves, they don't really get anything," Brown said.
Volunteers from the neighborhood, including Kearny, served everyone from homeless living in the area to neighbors simply needing a break.
"This is very helpful. This is a very poor community as I can see and he's really doing an awesome job. He should be proud of himself," Alesha Farier said.
Kearny said it's not about him, but about making sure his community isn't forgotten.
"Everybody's hurting and if I can help them just a little bit, I will. Even if it hurts me, I'm gonna do it," Kearny said.