In March 2020 life as we know it turned upside down in the wake of a worldwide pandemic. Jobs were lost, businesses were closed, and people were frantically trying to figure out how to handle their current financial situations. Luckily, many people were granted unemployment benefits to help them during this crisis. For most, this money needed to be allocated and dispersed in a strategic way, as no one knew how long the pandemic would last, or more specifically how long the unemployment funds would last.
Practically everything in the city was shut down due to the pandemic. Olvera, living off unemployment after being let go from his movie theater job, found himself in Corpus Christi with extra money in his pocket, but nothing to spend it on. Olvera considers his character to be that of a simple man who does not require expensive things. With a surplus of unemployment money still left over after taking care of his responsibilities, Olvera felt a sort of guilt that came with the government-provided cash. After sharing this feeling with a couple of his friends, they came to realize they all felt the guilt, which prompted them to act fast and see how they could repurpose the money back into the community. It was then that “Food for da Homies” was born.
One of the coolest aspects of this charitable community project is that Olvera not only takes the time to feed less fortunate people in the community, but makes conscious efforts to ensure his team’s meals are healthy, homemade, and nutritious. Olvera said he plans his menu around ensuring they will get carbohydrates, water, fruit, and plenty of sustainable protein. His team is able to make about 50 or so plates two times a month with money from himself, his partners, and donations they receive from the community. He makes it a point to divide these meals up and have drivers deliver them to four different sectors within Corpus Christi, so as to not leave anyone out.