Événement

Four Corners of Africa Lunch & Fundraiser

Want to taste dishes from four African countries, while helping a mother recover from the loss of her only child? Then come join us on March 11!

Here's the story: I met Aline, an immigrant from the Central African Republic, when she took an entire day off from work to prepare a home-cooked meal for an American food blogger she'd never met (me) and 20 of our friends. It was an unbelievably kind thing for her to do -- especially since I'm not sure that she could easily afford to take a day off from her job as a home health aide.

A week or so later, Aline's only daughter died back in CAR. Obviously, we can't do much to ease that sort of pain, but I know that paying for the last-second plane ticket and funeral really stung. Unfortunately, home health aides aren't terribly well-paid.

To make things worse, Aline lost her job soon after returning from the trip. So she's in rough shape, both financially and emotionally.

So were trying to raise $2000 to help cover her travel expenses back to CAR for the funeral. It's the least we can do to repay her generosity toward us, and let her know that she has some love and support here in NYC.

We'll happily accept donations to the memorial fund (https://www.gofundme.com/honor-alines-daughter), or come join us for a delicious, informal African buffet lunch -- featuring dishes from five different African nations -- prepared by Chef Grace Acheampong:

- South Africa: peri peri chicken
- Kenya: sukuma wiki (stewed greens, either vegetarian or with chicken)
- Tanzania: beef pilau
- Ghana: kelewele (spicy plantains w/roasted peanuts; vegetarian)
- Nigeria: moi-moi (spiced black-eyed pea cakes; vegetarian)

And if you can't join us for lunch, any donation would be incredibly welcome.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me personally: Charles Bibilos, unitednationsoffood@gmail.com.