On Saturday, Chilean Restaurants Give Part of the Till to Families the Storms Left Without Roofs

On Saturday, Chilean restaurants and food establishments joined together in a unique charity event called Chile Cocina por Chile. The initiative, organized by TECHO-Chile in partnership with PlaceresChile, aimed to provide assistance to families whose homes were damaged by recent winter storms.

Rather than a fixed donation amount, each participating business had the flexibility to decide how much they would contribute. Some chose to donate a specific dish, dessert, drink, or bottle of wine, while others committed to contributing a share of their day's sales or even the entire amount earned that day. This adaptable approach allowed small restaurants and food trucks to participate alongside larger establishments, as the fixed percentage model would have excluded many from taking part.

The funds raised through this event were intended solely for field operations, specifically to provide habitability kits, protection against water damage, repairs, and emergency housing solutions for families affected by the storms. TECHO-Chile, the leading organization behind the initiative, is not a food charity but focuses on building emergency housing and improving living conditions for those in need.

The money collected during the event is directly administered by TECHO-Chile, with no pooling through the restaurants themselves.

For diners, the event was a simple matter of dining out as usual. Restaurants and food trucks would not charge an additional donation fee; instead, the contributions were made indirectly through the sales generated during the day. If a restaurant chose to participate, they typically highlighted a particular item on the menu as the solidarity choice, and diners would not have noticed any change in their bill.

The proceeds from these chosen items would then be directed towards the specified field work and emergency housing projects.

The initiative was part of a broader effort to address the recurring issue of winter storms in Chile, which cause significant damage to housing, particularly in informal settlements. By participating in Chile Cocina por Chile, restaurants and food establishments played a crucial role in providing tangible support to those affected, ensuring that damaged homes could withstand the winter season and providing immediate relief to families in need.