Woman living in her car brings sandwiches, love to the homeless of Houston

FILE PHOTO: Dominick Walton, who is homeless herself, serves food to homeless people amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Houston, Texas, U.S., April 19, 2020. REUTERS/Go Nakamura

Dominick SeJohn Walton spots a man with a shopping cart piled high with belongings and a sign that says "Homeless. Please Help" under a Texas highway overpass. With the coronavirus keeping many at home, the road is quieter than usual.

She hands him a plastic bag filled with a baloney and cheese sandwich, cookies, and applesauce. On the outside she has written in permanent blue marker: 'God Bless. Jesus loves you. I love you!'

Walton knows what it is like to be homeless and hungry. She is currently living mainly in her car, sleeping at her sister's apartment in Houston sometimes.

FILE PHOTO: Dominick Walton, who is homeless herself, serves food to homeless people amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Houston, Texas, U.S., April 19, 2020. REUTERS/Go Nakamura

"I started serving meals to the homeless because I understand what it's like not to know where your next meal is going to come from and that's the least that I feel like we can do for our community is to give back," said the 27-year-old.

Walton's car became her home after she became depressed following surgery for an ectopic pregnancy. She quit her job as a gas station cashier and is now living in the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu, trying to save enough money to start a t-shirt business featuring her own designs. She was recently hired by a non-profit organization that distributes meals to low-income families.

In many U.S. cities, homeless people are spending their nights on empty trains, or camping behind closed businesses and under deserted highways. Many fear to enter homeless shelters, where the coronavirus can spread fast.

FILE PHOTO: Dominick Walton, who is homeless herself, prepares food bags for homeless people in her sister's apartment amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Houston, Texas, U.S., April 26, 2020. REUTERS/Go Nakamura

Walton drives around and spots a man sitting on the ground.

"Hello sir," she calls out, her big smile hidden behind the surgical mask she wears. He does not respond, perhaps dozing, so she touches his elbow with her gloved hand to give him some food.

Walton buys the groceries herself or uses leftovers from her employer, making the bags in her sister's apartment, where her 1-year-old and 4-year-old nieces play.

FILE PHOTO: Dominick Walton, who is homeless herself, poses as she crosses a road to serve food to homeless people amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Houston, Texas, U.S., April 19, 2020. REUTERS/Go Nakamura

When she is done for the day, she parks her car near a mall, park, or just a quiet neighborhood, propping her cellphone against the car window while she stretches out in the front seat.

Her dreams: A t-shirt business so successful that she can give away even more food.

FILE PHOTO: Dominick Walton, who is homeless herself, leaves food bags for homeless people amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Houston, Texas, U.S., April 19, 2020. REUTERS/Go Nakamura

(Reporting by Go Nakamura; Writing by Lisa Shumaker; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)

FILE PHOTO: Dominick Walton, who is homeless herself, adjusts her mask in her car before she drives to the next location to serve food to homeless people amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Houston, Texas, U.S., April 19, 2020. REUTERS/Go Nakamura

FILE PHOTO: Dominick Walton, who is homeless herself, reaches to turn on the light in her car as she prepares to sleep amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Houston, Texas, U.S., April 26, 2020. REUTERS/Go Nakamura

FILE PHOTO: Dominick Walton, who is homeless herself, plays with her nieces Kenley and Hazel as they self-quarantine at Dominick's sister's apartment amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Houston, Texas, U.S., April 25, 2020. REUTERS/Go Nakamura

FILE PHOTO: Dominick Walton, who is homeless herself, poses in her car after serving food to homeless people amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Houston, Texas, U.S., April 19, 2020. REUTERS/Go Nakamura

FILE PHOTO: Dominick Walton, who is homeless, sleeps in her car amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Houston, Texas, U.S., April 26, 2020. REUTERS/Go Nakamura

FILE PHOTO: Dominick Walton, who is homeless herself, relaxes in the car where she sleeps in at a parking space amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Houston, Texas, U.S., April 21, 2020. REUTERS/Go Nakamura

FILE PHOTO: Dominick Walton, who is homeless herself, serves food to homeless people amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Houston, Texas, U.S., April 19, 2020. REUTERS/Go Nakamura

FILE PHOTO: Dominick Walton, who is homeless herself, prepares her bed for the day in her car at a parking space amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Houston, Texas, U.S., April 21, 2020. REUTERS/Go Nakamura

FILE PHOTO: Dominick Walton, who is homeless, plays with her nieces Kenley and Hazel as they self-quarantine at Dominick's sister's apartment amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Houston, Texas, U.S., April 25, 2020. REUTERS/Go Nakamura

FILE PHOTO: Dominick Walton, who is homeless, plays with her niece Hazel as they self-quarantine at Dominick's sister's apartment amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Houston, Texas, U.S., April 25, 2020. REUTERS/Go Nakamura

FILE PHOTO: Dominick Walton, who is homeless herself, prepares food bags for homeless people in her sister's apartment amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Houston, Texas, U.S., April 26, 2020. REUTERS/Go Nakamura

FILE PHOTO: Dominick Walton, who is homeless herself, puts a message on every food bags she makes for homeless people amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Houston, Texas, U.S., April 19, 2020. REUTERS/Go Nakamura

FILE PHOTO: Dominick Walton, who is homeless herself, relaxes and watches a video on her smartphone before sleeping in her car at a parking space amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Houston, Texas, U.S., April 21, 2020. REUTERS/Go Nakamura

FILE PHOTO: Dominick Walton, who is homeless herself, relaxes and watches a video on her smartphone before sleeping in her car at a parking space amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Houston, Texas, U.S., April 21, 2020. REUTERS/Go Nakamura

FILE PHOTO: Dominick Walton, who is homeless herself, drives by a homeless person's shopping cart with a placard which reads "Doing my best at this time. Any help, blessing" amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Houston, Texas, U.S., April 19, 2020. REUTERS/Go Nakamura

FILE PHOTO: Dominick Walton, who is homeless herself, walks back to her car after handing out food bags to homeless people amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Houston, Texas, U.S., April 26, 2020. REUTERS/Go Nakamura

FILE PHOTO: Dominick Walton, who is homeless herself, watches a video with her nieces Kenley and Hazel as they self-quarantine at Dominick's sister's apartment amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Houston, Texas, U.S., April 25, 2020. REUTERS/Go Nakamura

FILE PHOTO: Dominick Walton, who is homeless, plays with her nieces Kenley and Hazel as they self-quarantine at Dominick's sister's apartment amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Houston, Texas, U.S., April 25, 2020. REUTERS/Go Nakamura

FILE PHOTO: Dominick Walton, who is homeless herself, serves food to homeless people amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Houston, Texas, U.S., April 26, 2020. REUTERS/Go Nakamura

FILE PHOTO: Dominick Walton, who is homeless, sleeps in her car amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Houston, Texas, U.S., April 26, 2020. REUTERS/Go Nakamura

FILE PHOTO: Dominick Walton, who is homeless herself, prepares food bags for homeless people in her sister's apartment amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Houston, Texas, U.S., April 26, 2020. REUTERS/Go Nakamura

FILE PHOTO: Dominick Walton, who is homeless herself, poses in the car where she sleeps in at a parking space amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Houston, Texas, U.S., April 21, 2020. REUTERS/Go Nakamura

FILE PHOTO: Dominick Walton, who is homeless herself, puts a message on every food bag she makes for homeless people amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Houston, Texas, U.S., April 26, 2020. REUTERS/Go Nakamura

FILE PHOTO: A homeless person shows what is contained in the food bag she was given by Dominick Walton, who is also homeless herself, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Houston, Texas, U.S., April 19, 2020. REUTERS/Go Nakamura

FILE PHOTO: Dominick Walton, who is homeless, plays with her nieces Kenley and Hazel as they self-quarantine at Dominick's sister's apartment amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Houston, Texas, U.S., April 25, 2020. REUTERS/Go Nakamura