When the coronavirus pandemic reached Los Angeles, a Boyle Heights shelter was forced to cancel the participation of its volunteers to avoid spreading the spread of COVID-19.
However, this work was vital as they were responsible for feeding around 70 members of the Proyecto Guadalupe shelter, which belongs to the Proyecto Pastoral organization, every day.
About 40% of the site's guests are seniors.
"The volunteers helped us to support the shelter and bring food for those who are here," said Raquel Román, director of the shelter.
He said that with few options but much need, he asked family, friends and the community for help to donate food.
"Then Proyecto Pastoral called the Casa Fina restaurant to see if they could support us," he added.
Without much thought, the restaurant, also located in Boyle Heights, accepted and decided to get down to work four weeks ago.
This is how the “Buy One, Give One Food” program was born.
The initiative is responsible for offering free food to those most in need with each order that customers request.
Every time the restaurant gathers about 70 orders, they take 70 plates of food to the Proyecto Guadalupe hostel. So far they have been able to take a snack once a week without fail.
The co-owner of Casa Fina Restaurant & Cantina, Emmanuel Deleage, said that although they also face an economic crisis due to the limitations in their sales due to the health emergency, they felt lucky to be able to give a helping hand to the most vulnerable.
"We want to show that we can also help," he said. "Of the 24 employees we have regularly right now, 22 are working, with very limited hours, but here they are."
Deleage added that waiters and busboys are now in charge of bringing food orders home.
And that Casa Fina was also in charge of creating La Tiendita, which has some of the basic food and necessities that customers can buy with their order.
"We remain very positive, we know that we are all suffering but we are helping each other," said Deleage. "We try to be supportive."
Buy One, Give one Food
This April 14 marks the fourth week of the program when Casa Fina Restaurant & Cantina will send 70 dishes of food again making a total of 280 dishes since they started.
The community has responded positively, as their orders have been consistent, and to continue, the restaurant is possibly planning to bring two shipments of food a week to the shelter.
"The people at the hostel are looking forward to this food because they really like the seasoning of the cooks," said Roman.
"Many of them were already in an economic crisis before (the pandemic) started," he added.
The Proyecto Guadalupe shelter averages its guests for 90 days and then sends them to more permanent homes.
However, since the coronavirus pandemic occurred, they have not moved any hosts and have only accepted a new host which is now in temporary isolation, Roman said.
"People here don't go out unless they have to go to a doctor's visit or other essential outing," said the director.
And while the Proyecto Guadalupe shelter is in charge of keeping its guests safe and sound, Casa Fina Restaurant & Cantina and its employees are in charge of distributing food to customers and donations to shelter guests.
For each takeout purchased at Casa Fina Restaurant & Cantina, located at 1842 East First Street, Boyle Heights, valued at $ 10 or more, the restaurant donates one meal to the Guadalupe Project Shelter of Pastoral Project, located at the Block 171 Gless Street in Boyle Heights.
Casa Fina Restaurant & Cantina is co-owned by award-winning playwright / screenwriter Josefina López, creator of the play, "Real Women Have Curves", and is also the founding artistic director of the CASA 0101 theater.
Both are located on First Street in Boyle Heights. Deleage is the executive director of CASA 0101.
To learn more about the food donation program visit: www.casafinarestaurant.com
