NYS Latino Restaurant Association works with NYC to provide meals to Twin Parks fire victims

A group of restaurants is helping families impacted by the Twin Parks fire two months after the incident killed 17 people and displaced several residents.

News 12 Staff

Mar 8, 2022, 12:26 AM

Updated 1,010 days ago

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A group of restaurants is helping families impacted by the Twin Parks fire two months after the incident killed 17 people and displaced several residents.
Utopia Kitchen and Lodge spent Monday preparing meals for families impacted by the fatal fire. The Inwood eatery has been in business for only two months, but manager Ismeal Garcia says they didn't hesitate to provide its services to families still struggling with the aftermath of the devastating fire.
“These people really need help, we are happy to be continuing the support,” Garcia says.
The city extended food deliveries for victims of the fire for another month after it was set to end March 7. The meal service program provides food to families still living in hotels.
The New York State Latino Restaurant, Bar and Lounge Association, a group of more than 300 restaurants and bars across the state, are partnering with the city to replace World Central Kitchen as it shifts its work to providing food relief in Ukraine.
Sandra Jaquez, of the Latino Restaurant Group, says the association is proud to step in to fill the need of displaced Bronx families still struggling to find permanent housing.
“Some of these families are completely homeless. They have nothing, so providing some sort of homeness with the food we are providing gives them a little bit of hope,” Jaquez says.
Restaurants in the association will be taking turns cooking, packing and delivering more than 300 meals to eight local hotels where displaced families are currently staying to continue to provide them breakfast, lunch and dinner.