Miami

Local Chef Cooking Up Plans to Help Florence Victims

Giovanni Fernandez's plan is to bring some Latin flavor -- arroz con pollo -- to the Carolinas once the storm passes.

What to Know

  • A local chef is planning to travel to the Carolinas to cook hot meals for Florence victims once the storm passes.
  • Giovanni Fernandez accepting donations until Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Rumor Has It Party Rentals in Doral
  • Drop off donations at 2210 NW 82 Avenue, Doral, FL 33122, or call 305-265-2002

As Florence bears down on the Carolinas, a South Florida chef is already cooking up plans to bring victims relief.

Giovanni Fernandez is using his resources from his catering company El Rey de la Paella in Doral to feed a lot of people looking for a hot meal. His plan is to bring some Latin flavor -- arroz con pollo -- to the Carolinas once the storm passes.

"We're just going to wait and see what areas are the most damaged areas, and then we're going to get the truck and go up there and see how we can make it happen," Fernandez said.

Growing up in Miami, Fernandez is familiar with how devastating hurricanes can be, so he started putting the word out about making a trip to the Carolinas to feed people.

This isn't the first time Fernandez has jumped into action like this. He drove down to Marathon after Hurricane Irma hit to feed people recovering from the storm.

"The reward that I got was from all of these people saying thank you because 'We've been eating cold food' or 'We've been eating canned food' for the last two or three weeks," he said.

Though he was born in Miami, Fernandez spent part of his childhood in Cuba.

"I was raised there and I saw what it is to not have food," he said. "So that’s basically my biggest drive is to be there to be a helping hand for those that don’t have."

Fernandez has the tools to cook hundreds of hot meals in a few hours. He's asking for donations of non-perishable food to bring along with him. He has a 16-foot truck he plans to drive up next week, and he hopes it will be full.

Fernandez is accepting donations until Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Drop-off Location:

Rumor Has It Party Rentals

2210 NW 82 Avenue

Doral, FL 33122

305-265-2002

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