As anyone who’s ever spent any time there can tell you, Chicago is called ‘the Windy City’ with good reason. In winter, when there’s a stiff breeze blowing off Lake Michigan pedestrians often feel more like popsicles than people, making getting in out of the bitter cold a priority.
But when your job is strictly outdoors, staying warm and toasty isn’t an option—unless someone comes to your rescue, that is.
Chicago restauranteur Robert Magiet was driving across town one morning when he spotted a shivering tamale vendor braving the frigid January temperatures. On the spur of the moment, he decided to make her an offer she couldn’t refuse.
Rather than let the woman—who was wearing so many layers of clothing she looked a bit tamale-like herself—turn into a tamale popsicle, Magiet bought out her entire day’s supply—close to 10 dozen tamales, gave her a big tip, and sent her on her way.
After she’d gratefully gone home, Magiet loaded up the copious quantities of tamales he’d purchased and distributed them to some of Chicagoland’s homeless population.
Pleased with the outcome of the morning’s events, Magiet took to Facebook to see if he could continue the trend: “Anyone know of any Tamale Cart vendors that will be out this weekend in the cold weather?” he posted.
“I went to Yolanda near Humboldt Park and bought her out so she could go home today. I’d love to do the same for other Vendors and distribute the Tamales to our Neighbors experiencing homelessness. Let me know of any leads please.”
In the following days, armed with suggestions, Magiet bought up all the tamales from vendors at three different locations. And again, after generously tipping the sellers whose trade had been severely curtailed by both the weather and the lockdown, he shared their wares with people in need.
Helping the hungry in his community is nothing new for Magiet. Having seen firsthand the devastating impact the coronavirus pandemic had on his own industry, he feels lucky to be in a position to provide much-needed relief for those struggling to put food on the table.
After opening a Love Fridge community food pantry outside his TaKorea Cocina restaurant this past June, Magiet teamed up with the owners of Fatso’s Last Stand and Jack & Ginger’s restaurants to prep and deliver 1,300 Thanksgiving meals for the needy.
But Magiet wasn’t through. After Christmas, he partnered with Jason Vincent, owner of Logan Square eatery Giant, to provision and man a food truck serving breakfast and lunch to the homeless.
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Next, he reached out to his friend Taylor Hammond, owner of The StopAlong, a Bucktown pizzeria, to ask if he’d be willing to donate his kitchen once a week to help ease food insecurity for families in need. Knowing how much kids love pizza, Hammond readily agreed.
“It’s like, I have a restaurant. I have food. I know people who have restaurants and food. Let’s help people who need food,” Magiet told the Chicago Tribune.
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Magiet plans to continue his tamale runs for the remainder of the winter. Pizzas are still on the table as well.
“If somebody in our neighborhood is struggling, we all struggle,” Magiet said. “I’m not trying to save the world. I’m just trying to help people who need food. If I have the ability to go help somebody, I’m just going to go help somebody. To me, it’s literally that simple.”
The food Magiet collects will be distributed to several Love Fridges locations around town, Breakthrough Urban Ministries in East Garfield Park, and to Franciscan Outreach’s homeless shelter in North Lawndale. If you’d like to help, donations can be made to Zelle at 773-807-0057 or venmo: @takoreacocina.
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This is the sort of person that is deserving of a Presidential Medal of Freedom.
These are the type of people that reaffirm my faith in humanity. I truly believe that we are put here on earth to help one another. When you don’t help you are not fulfilling your destiny. God bless everyone reading GNN and keep you and yours all safe and well.
And that is how we change the world …one person, one act of kindness, one step at a time.