CRITIC’S PICK: Pull up a chair, exhale, and come to feast for a cause, organizers from the We Love Buford Highway nonprofit propose. Under the moniker Feast, the group is hosting an ethnic foodie gathering to raise money for its many initiatives. “Your support means breaking rice, tortillas, naan, and more, for the multicultural identity of a gem we all embrace,” the marketing verbiage states, adding that the goal is to “preserve this area’s dynamic and internationally recognized footprint.” Programs include feeding families, helping immigrants who run small businesses, a youth orchestra, after school programs, an oral history project, art murals, assistance with zoning, permits and license issues, and a bunch of others. “It’s about more than just food,” said Executive Director Lily Pabian about the stretch of road famous for its vastly varied cuisine. “It’s real help.” An immigrant from Taiwan, she moved to Buford Highway as a child with her family. “We want to help each other,” she insists. Encompassing the municipalities of Brookhaven, Chamblee and Doraville, the agency kicked into high gear with the onset of the pandemic and ended up providing 100,000 meals, Pabian estimated, while helping with vaccine administration for thousands as well, “to make sure our communities didn’t get left out.” - Kevin C. Madigan
From the venue:
We Love Buford Highway is a deeply trusted non-profit organization that aims to preserve cultural diversity and promote the prosperity of the family-owned businesses and communities living along the Buford Highway corridor. In the face of the pandemic, and unmeasurable economic hardships within a backdrop of highly competitive markets and growth, local communities are facing tremendous change striking urgency more than at any other time in the corridor’s half of a century worth of flavors, experience, art, stories, and tradition.
Enclosed is a compelling partnership event proposal that we ask you to consider with great intention and hunger to preserve this area’s dynamic and internationally recognized footprint. Your support means breaking rice, tortillas, naan, and more, for the multicultural identity of a gem we all embrace.
CL RECOMMENDS