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STRONGER UNITED! FEED MAUI FIRE VOLUNTEERS!
My name is Brad Starks, and I am reaching out to you on behalf of my great friend Sara Kleiven, who owns a unique restaurant on the island of Maui, Hawaii, called “The Empanada Lady.” She makes the most delicious and authentic Caribbean food from the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica, using organic ingredients and local Hawaiian favorites with her own touch and flare. They also feature the best live jazz groups and artists on the island of Maui.
Empanada Lady is more than just a place to eat; it is a place to celebrate life, music, culture, and community.
Sara’s dream of sharing her passion for food with the world has been shattered by the devastating events of the past year. She opened her restaurant just three weeks before the pandemic, which forced her to close her doors for 18 months. She barely managed to keep her space and survive during this time, but she never stopped helping her community. She donated food to local food banks, shelters, and schools, even when she had nothing left for herself.
When the island reopened, Sara was hopeful that things would get better. Her restaurant was a hit with tourists and locals alike, and she was voted “Best Argentinian Food” by the Maui Times in 2023. But then disaster struck again. On August 8, 2023, the Maui Wildfires ravaged the entire island, destroying homes, businesses, and natural resources. Sara and her team lost everything they had worked so hard for. Yet instead of giving up, Sara showed incredible courage and compassion. She heard that firefighters, first responders, and displaced Maui locals needed meals, and she decided to use her own funds, at the risk of late payments on her own health care and rent, to buy food to feed anyone and everyone she could reach.
Sara is a hero in my eyes and in the eyes of many others who have been touched by her generosity and kindness. But she can’t do this alone. She needs our help to continue her mission of feeding Maui’s first responders and those in need.
We are looking for donations to help us purchase everything required for us to feed 500+ people every Saturday afternoon for the next 10 months. A portion of the funds raised will be used to purchase all the food needed to cook. The rest of the funds will be used to hire and pay volunteers who have been displaced to work in the kitchen to assist in making the food. Our system feeds those who need it the most while being made by some who have been affected and paying them a living wage.

Please donate whatever you can to this cause. Every dollar counts. Every empanada matters. Every life is precious, and we all need to show 'Aloha' to each other always.

Thank you for your generosity and compassion. Together, we can make a difference for Sara and for all Maui citizens.

Brad