“Today is beautiful; a day I’ve been waiting on a long long time,” Simmons said.
Simmons is working with a friend from the inside. Andre Armstrong did 31 years in state prison and is now running the mobile kitchen.
“I’m trying to support him any way I can,” Armstrong said. “Because we always watch each others’ back.”
Simmons’ new friends are also helping with the business plan.
Ebenezer Baptist Church’s Pastor Derrick Scobey, along with former congressman J.C. Watts, Representative Jason Lowe and Oklahoma County Sheriff’s candidate Wayland Cubit were all in attendance for the grand opening.
Free Man’s Food Truck Image KFOR.
His neighbors on Northeast 20th and Martin Luther King Boulevard, the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, gave up a few parking spots for Simmons’ new venture, the Free Man’s Food Truck .
“A food truck is a really needed thing on the east side, more businesses equal a better community,” said Father Lance Schmitz. “It was just a natural fit.”
For nearly fifty years, Simmons dreamed about life on the outside. His prison fantasy was to own a small business, to share his love of great food with his community.
One year ago, this innocent man walked out of the Oklahoma County Courthouse a free man; the same courthouse where he’d been sentenced to death in 1975.
“I came out of prison with absolutely nothing,” Simmons remembered. “No food. No clothes. No shelter. No transportation.”
Generous Oklahomans helped him get back on his feet.
“I don’t know nothing else to do but to give back,” Simmons said. “After serving for 48 years, all I want to do is serve others now.”
Good to his word, he is serving up free food truck fare on this grand opening day.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Comments / 0