TAMPA, Florida — Just days from now, Tampa police will gather with the community in Ybor City to discuss ways to prevent gun violence.
A Tampa father who lost his son to gun violence and has made it a mission to stop it is urging unity after the Halloween shooting killed two people and injured 16 others.
"Not everything we face we can change, but we can't change nothing until we face it," Johnny Johnson, Rise Up For Peace vice president, said.
Johnson lost his son Jayquon nearly seven years ago to gun violence. He was just 17.
"Every day I wake up, I do have that empty chair, I'm reminded there's going to be a holiday. He won't be sitting at the table," Johnson said.
Since then, Johnson has been working to shed light on the issues of gun violence and helping families in his shoes.
While his heart is broken, it's still beating for the sake of his son and those losing children to gun violence. Part of the solution, he believes, is about leadership from adults to set an example. In addition, more of the community must come together.
Johnson, along with The United Bikerz Jamboree, packed meals to give out Friday in preparation of an annual giveaway.
"This on a grander scale, is what we're trying to achieve. More organization, more elected officials, more community leaders coming together, putting personal issues aside, united for the cause and betterment of us all," Johnson said.
The free meals are meant to be a gesture that there's help and a better path away from weapons.
"We want to let them know we care about them," Chris Hill, chairperson for The United Bikerz Jamboree said. "We want to let everybody know, we feel the pain, and we feel your passion. And I just want to let you know, we're here to help you."
Meals will be given out at Middleton High School Saturday starting at 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The second annual event includes several community partners and will also provide resources.
Tampa police plan to host their community meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Centro Asturiano de Tampa.