The owner of Ten Ten Tapas in Vancouver is opening his doors to the homeless for a free monthly meal that he says will help give back to the community. Owner Derek Oelmann is also challenging other local restaurants to do the same, so maybe the homeless could grab different meals at different times, and on different days.
Last Wednesday, Oelmann continued his project by serving 50 low income and homeless people with some low-cost items on his menu that could be prepared with some of his cheaper ingredients. This is the third time that he has served free meals in the past two months.
“What I’d like to see is this replicated by other restaurants,” Oelmann said in a recent interview.
“We did this relatively easily and inexpensively and could you (restaurateurs), once a month, open up your doors to the community?” he added.
According to the Vancouver Sun, the courses included grilled Asiago, mozzarella and cheddar cheese sandwiches along with their choice of seafood chowder, tomato purée or beef-mushroom soup.
Oelmann and co-owner Phillip were inspired to start this program late one night when a homeless person knocked on the door of the restaurant and asked if they had any leftovers to spare.
“Our staff morale is high, the chef is in a great mood because he’s helping people out … it’s just been a real nice feel good thing,” said Oelmann.
John Vibes writes for True Activist and is an author, researcher and investigative journalist who takes a special interest in the counter culture and the drug war.
