– Press Release, San Pedro, Belize – Fate Gives will be hosting San Pedro’s first soup kitchen event in January at Sandbar. Beginning at 6 p.m. on Jan. 8, the new project entitled “Hope Kitchen” will provide a healthy meal to families that might not otherwise be able to afford the luxury of a dinner out on Ambergris Caye.
Fate Gives is partnering with local San Pedrano, Hermojenes “Moncho” Acosta, known as “Teacher Moncho”, to identify families in need who would benefit from the Hope Kitchen project. The initial event will be hosted for these families selected by Teacher Moncho.
“The idea of Hope Kitchen is very near and dear to my heart and was inspired by Jon Bon Jovi’s Soul Kitchen,” says Brittney O’Daniel, chairman of Fate Gives and co-owner of Sandbar restaurant. “I want to enable all residents of San Pedro to have access to healthy food options and be able to enjoy a night out with their family, all in a beautiful setting.”
The traditional premise behind the Hope Kitchen is for diners to pay what they can afford, whether it is $1 or $10. There are no prices on the menu and diners may be seated with people they do not know. Fate Gives is asking that everyone contribute something for their meal, whether it is 1 BZ or gently used donations, such as toys or used clothes, to help another family in need.
“We are estimating that 20 BZ will cover the cost of one meal, and anything over that will go towards feeding other families,” shared Erin De Santiago, Fate Give’s Public Relations Director. “Eventually, we want to open this to all families and bring everyone together, no matter what their financial situation is.”
The dinner will feature buffet style salads, fruits, fresh vegetables, and desserts, with plated main entrée. An arts and crafts table will be available throughout the night for kids’ activities, and Toucan Jumper has graciously donated free bungee trampoline jumps for the event (financial donations accepted).
Fate Gives hopes the success of this event will allow them to host future Hope Kitchen dinner events on a regular basis.
Sandbar is located on the beach, across from Wet Willy’s dock, adjacent to Ambergris Brewing Company.
Those interested in sponsorships, or financial and/or arts and crafts supply donations can contact Erin De Santiago, Public Relations Director at erin_desantiago@yahoo.com or +501 637-2012.
Fate Gives is a charity organization founded in 2012 by San Pedro residents Brittney O’Daniel, Erin De Santiago, Brittany Munson, and Jessica Salo, with the support of Joe Chung, Teacher “Moncho” and Dorian Nunez at Ambergris Today. Brought together by fate and a set of unlikely circumstances, four women discovered a common goal and the desire for giving back to a place that has given so much to them. Fate Gives is committed to providing an economically effective way to enrich the lives of people around the world, one project at a time. For more information about Fate Gives and the Hope Kitchen project, please see hopekitchen.org and fategives.org.
