Darius Burnett, the owner of Burnett’s Food for the Soul, said he is carrying out his own mission of giving back what God has blessed him with.

PFLUGERVILLE, Texas — Darius Burnett is no stranger to serving. 

“God sent me here and I was able to open up a restaurant, and trust me, it was hard,” Burnett said. 

For him, it was easy to decide giving what God gave him back to the community.

“At Burnett’s, we’re trying to make sure that not only are we feeding the homeless,” Burnett said. “[But] that we’re feeding people great quality food with no preservatives and give them a taste that they’ll remember.” 

Burnett takes out his fried catfish from the friers. The owner of Burnett’s Food for the Soul in Pflugerville uses it to feed the souls of those who doo not have much left.

“That’s why I feel like it’s my … my duty to give back, because if God opened the doors for me, I need to open the doors for others,” Burnett said. 

And he goes out those doors of his business, and in to the streets of Austin.

“I go out on Rundberg, like we’re gonna do a homeless run where we go out and people that we see actually that haven’t made it in here, we want to feed them,” Burnett said. 

He said he makes it all possible with any “extra” money from the business. 

“When you’re in a business, you’re in a business to make profit,” Burnett said. “So the profit that you make doesn’t always have to go to you.”

That sentiment is something that caught the attention of Pasqual Salazar, Burnett’s food service representative. 

“I feel like I, I can still do more when I see somebody doing, doing a lot,” Salazar said. “I feel like I still, I can do more and I look for ways to do more.”

Salazar said he donates what he can to the cause. 

“We donate food directly if it’s, if it’s fries, chicken, steak, whatever we have available,” Salazar said. 

Of course, there is a spiritual aspect to this.

Terrell Chatman works to give that motivational work to lift spirits. 

“He feeds the soul through the tangible food, and we feed the soul through the spiritual food, so they must both go hand in hand in order to bring balance,” Chatman said. 

And it’s a balance for those whose worlds may be anything but.

If you are interested in helping out, Burnett said to visit him at his restaurant located at 428 Grand Ave Parkway. 

Burnett’s friend, Anika Bell, also helped in Friday’s efforts by providing free blood pressure readings and connecting homeless individuals. 

You can reach her at (877) 234-1037 or mymiraclecare@yahoo.com