‘This is the right thing to do’: San Antonio coffee shop owners deliver hundreds of meals to elderly

Published 4:04 pm CDT, Wednesday, March 25, 2020

One South Side couple may have had to close their coffee shop because of the coronavirus pandemic, but they are open for business helping feed San Antonio’s senior citizens.

As concerns over the virus grew and Tatu Herrera and his wife Emilie Herrera were forced to close the Folklores Coffee House, they started to think about what would happen to the senior citizens across the Alamo City who weren’t able to easily stock up on supplies.

“We just started thinking, what happens to the people who can’t go out and get food? How are they able to eat?” Tatu said.

So last week, the couple decided to start making meals to take to the elderly around town. Tatu and some of his friends who are local chefs have been making meals — from hamburgers to lasagna — that they then deliver to homes. They also run errands and go grocery shopping for those who need it.

“Not all of the seniors qualify for Meals on Wheels for whatever reason, or they don’t have family to check on them or they are on social media all day and scared about leaving because of what they see,” Tatu said.

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“It makes us feel good to help,” he added. “This is the right thing to do.”

After asking for referrals, the couple delivered about 40 meals on the first day. By the next day, the demand had grown to nearly 100 people. As of Wednesday, they have served nearly 900 meals.

“When we deliver the meals, we hear so many sad stories one after the other and it just kills you,” Tatu said. “For most, it may be the only meal they have that day and it’s like how are you going to be able to eat without us? So we have to do our part and keep helping.”

While the deed is noble, it is a difficult task. The couple has paid for a lot of the food from their savings with some help from community donations. Tatu said he will go to the store and buy ingredients for meals he can make in large quantities with whatever money they have for the day and ration it out to be delivered.

READ ALSO: San Antonians who have stepped up in the middle of the coronavirus emergency

“We aren’t thinking of the coffee shop or our bills, those will be there at the end of the day,” he said. “But we need to help out however we can until we can’t.”

To help, Tatu asks for monitory donations so they can buy the food. The couple is also looking for anyone who wants to be a delivery driver.

To donate, click here.

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