The story behind the Tin Can Robots

Art that Feeds the Homeless

 

 Both of my parents are from Cuba, before Castro took over my parents settled

in New York, but later moved to Hialeah, Florida when I was 5 years old.

Having 5 kids and just one paycheck, my mother had to stretch every dollar,

but one thing I remember is that she always had more than enough food for all

of us & the neighbors. We had great food, full of flavor and you could taste the

love that went into making it. As I got older and learned to cook, I started

sharing my extra food with my neighbors. Then later here in Phoenix I worked

as a cook for the veterans at the Veteran's Home on Indian School and 7*^

street and learned to cook good nutritionally balanced food in huge quantities.

 

 After a while I thought that my neighbors didn't really need the food and

noticed the homeless in a park by my house in Tempe. So on a Saturday, my

wife and I packed up all of our leftovers and went to this park and fed the

homeless there.

 

 We started out with 12 meals on the first Saturday and then the next Saturday

we bought 24 frozen dinners and cooked them in our oven...then I thought "I

can make twice as much food, better and for half the cost if I make it myself

from scratch".

 

 So now every Saturday my wife and I get up at 5:30 am and cook 80 to 100 hot

and fresh meals. We then pack them up into the back of our minivan and head

off to distribute it to the homeless. About 4 years ago we have found a day

shelter that helps out people 55 and older on 10'" Ave. and Jefferson called

"Just A Center" and been providing them with lunch ever since. I try to make

fun meals for them that are hot, nutritious and homemade.

 

Thanks for your support..