MARCH 6, 2026 ON MY CORNER MEET YOUR VENDOR In 2023 I suffered a severe injury to my spine. The injury was so severe that I was Todd Johnson, vendor No. 689 In one sentence, who are you? I’m someone who loves people. Where do you usually sell Groundcover News? 4th Ave and Liberty St. — the Dunkin' corner. What is your favorite thing to do in Ann Arbor? Watch how everyone is living their lives! What words do you live by? Honesty and respect. What’s something about you that someone on the street wouldn’t know? I’m a great cook. What motivates you to work hard selling Groundcover News? I know it helps with homeless issues. What’s the best way to start the day? Praying and thanking God for all he’s done. What is a small thing that makes your day better? Someone smiling even when they are going through something. prepped for emergency back surgery at the University of Michigan Medical Center. While waiting in the emergency room, I was moved with fear, my only thoughts being how I would live the rest of my life in a wheelchair or lying in a bed in a vegetative state. When my surgeon and nurse walked out of my room, an inner voice said, “Get up, and get out of the hospital.” Without hesitation I stepped up behind my wheelchair and made my way past security to the parking lot where I pulled myself up into my truck and drove away. This was a turning point in my life. That still, small voice guided me to the Robert J. Delonis Center, the only place I could turn to after being physically unable to work and with no place to stay. I was given a cane to support myself as I learned to walk again step-by-step, with great pain. I was awarded a scholarship to the Ann Arbor YMCA where I participated in swimming twice a day. I felt much less pain while swimming and, after several GROUNDCOVER NEWS Thank you for walking with me at Delonis for their unconditional love, acceptance and support. I want to thank the staff at the YMCA for their patience and for giving me the freedom to heal without judgment. I want to thank the Ann DAVID MITCHELL Groundcover vendor No. 661 Arbor Police and Fire Departments for literally picking me up off the street when I could no longer move or had fallen down in pain. And finally I want to months, I developed a healthy routine with 45 minutes in the morning, and 45 minutes in the afternoon. The rigorous exercise strengthened the muscles around my spine, and now I am able to walk without a cane, and even ride a bicycle. Though I still experience a little pain, I am eternally grateful for the great fear and that voice that moved me to avoid back surgery and walk by faith. The three-year period of ongoing recovery was not easy and continues to this very day. Along my road to recovery, I have a long list of organizations and individuals to thank as many of them literally carried me when I could not walk for myself. I want to thank the staff WORD SEARCH by Emeri Jade Bey I love St. Patrick's Day! Patrick’s Day is a friendly holiday, too. I like Irish music; it is relaxing and fun. I like mint ice cream all year round, but St. Patrick’s Day is more of a reason to have it. Corned beef hash is one of my favorite DENISE SHEARER Groundcover vendor No. 485 St. Patrick’s Day is a very special holiday to me. It is special for a lot of different reasons. It is special because it is a Christian holiday and it is special because it is a beautiful and fun holiday. It is beautiful because green is one of my favorite colors. I love corned beef and mint ice cream. It is festive and fun. St. breakfast foods. I have a recipe, too. My famous corned beef stew. I like to put corned beef and carrots and mushrooms mixed with cream of mushroom soup and add a little garlic powder and seasoning salt and the stew is made! That’s one of my famous St. Patrick’s Day meals. Another recipe is my favorite sandwich — a corned beef sandwich on wheat bread. On both slices of bread, put Thousand Island dressing, plenty of corned beef, tomato and spinach. Cut it in half and enjoy! St. Patrick's Day is a good day to relax, wear and enjoy the color green, and celebrate the color green and praise Jesus. It is one of the most fun holidays of the winter! thank the men and women of Huron Valley Ambulance for getting me up, stabilizing and transporting me to the safety of a hospital. Now I live in Ypsilanti and have the privilege of giving honor to those who have helped me get back on my feet. In the weeks to come, I will give our readers a closer look into the history and inner workings of our first responders here in Washtenaw County. You will read about the brave individuals who have made a commitment to caring for those among us who can not take care of ourselves. Look for these in upcoming issues of Groundcover News. 3
4 Publizr Home