150,000 meals: Help Mera continue in our new home
Donation protected
Since March 2020, we have cooked and served over 150,000 meals for our Baltimore neighbors, and we have not stopped.
While COVID-19 cases have thankfully dropped, the demand for these meals has not, and we have continued making over 1,000 meals per week, despite rising costs of just about everything from tomatoes, to chicken to take-out boxes.
A few weeks ago, we moved to our own kitchen after 4 years of sharing kitchens throughout the city, and have continued making our community meals throughout this transition.
However, now we are asking for your help.
The costs of opening a new kitchen and restaurant, coupled with the need to continue making these meals, means we are in need of financial support. Our commitment to providing meals began thanks to support from our Baltimore community, and we hope to continue with your help!
Your donations will ensure we can continue to support our neighbors with these meals, by covering the costs of food and labor that we incur in order to produce them. If we can raise $35,000, we can cook another 3,500-4,000 meals, which will allow us to continue this commitment in the early months of opening our new place, without any gaps.
We're excited because this is a model that is unique - and we're eager to show that it is possible to run a food business that serves the community in various ways, beyond that of a typical restaurant.
More about our new home: Our new home is in Mount Vernon, at 1301 N Calvert on the corner of Preston. Just two blocks from Penn Station.
As a team, we have thought a lot about what this space means for us, and what we want it to be for all of you.
When will Mera open?
Catering and community meal activities are ongoing as we write this and we're currently in a 'pre-soft opening phase', with opportunities for take out specials on Fridays ! Our menu and ordering instructions is our website. Plus we are still at the Farmers Market weekly through November.
Will you be open more than just one day a week?
You bet! This is the best part. We can drastically increase our hours, capacity and services. We will phase up to regular service, adding lunch and then dinner. Is weekend brunch in our future? Why not…?!
Will you have indoor and outdoor seating?
We will pay attention to COVID-19, and use that to inform our decisions in terms of opening indoors. And of course the weather will determine outdoor seating. But we have a beautiful dining room with a great mezzanine that we can use for public and private events.
Why are you so excited about having your own space?
Having our own space gives us the agency to create a place that is “ours”. A place that extends beyond a traditional restaurant space. A place that represents our diverse cultures as a team at Mera, and the community that we integrated into Baltimore. It is a vehicle to share our cultures; the aroma of cardamom in a rice dish, the tangy spices of salsa verde, fruity, tropical baked goods, and the refreshing gingery mint juices of Burkina Faso. Since we started Mera four years ago, we’ve had the pleasure of working with many incredible individuals in Baltimore, and we’re excited to bring those experiences into our new home. This space is an opportunity for our chefs to fully express themselves, re-invent their food, collaborate with one another, and most importantly take the Baltimore community on a culinary adventure around the world. We believe in the power of communing over food, on long tables, with shared plates, in conversation, and in pausing to connect with one another.
What will the new space be like? What can we expect?
We believe in centering our community when we envision the design of our space. We believe not only in creating a "space" - a physical design of Mera Kitchen that is functional - but more importantly, a “place” - a welcoming emotional experience for our community. Since the inception of Mera, we strive to create an inviting place of abundance and collectivism. We believe food is to be shared and is a means to learn about one another and have a meaningful exchange with another human being. The space will function as a restaurant and a community space, where people can meet over a meal or over one cup of tea. A space to create free cultural events and programming that represents our community. We envision this place to be like a plaza, where the community interacts and enhances our understanding of each others cultures.
Sounds great. What else can I do help?
We are so happy you asked! First, as soon as we open, come visit us and tell all your friends, and their friends...forever! We're still catering, so reach out via our website it you'd like us to cater your next event.
Note: If you prefer to make a tax-deductible donation, you can do so via Maryland Philanthropy Network . These donations will help us continue our community meal commitment.
While COVID-19 cases have thankfully dropped, the demand for these meals has not, and we have continued making over 1,000 meals per week, despite rising costs of just about everything from tomatoes, to chicken to take-out boxes.
A few weeks ago, we moved to our own kitchen after 4 years of sharing kitchens throughout the city, and have continued making our community meals throughout this transition.
However, now we are asking for your help.
The costs of opening a new kitchen and restaurant, coupled with the need to continue making these meals, means we are in need of financial support. Our commitment to providing meals began thanks to support from our Baltimore community, and we hope to continue with your help!
Your donations will ensure we can continue to support our neighbors with these meals, by covering the costs of food and labor that we incur in order to produce them. If we can raise $35,000, we can cook another 3,500-4,000 meals, which will allow us to continue this commitment in the early months of opening our new place, without any gaps.
We're excited because this is a model that is unique - and we're eager to show that it is possible to run a food business that serves the community in various ways, beyond that of a typical restaurant.
More about our new home: Our new home is in Mount Vernon, at 1301 N Calvert on the corner of Preston. Just two blocks from Penn Station.
As a team, we have thought a lot about what this space means for us, and what we want it to be for all of you.
When will Mera open?
Catering and community meal activities are ongoing as we write this and we're currently in a 'pre-soft opening phase', with opportunities for take out specials on Fridays ! Our menu and ordering instructions is our website. Plus we are still at the Farmers Market weekly through November.
Will you be open more than just one day a week?
You bet! This is the best part. We can drastically increase our hours, capacity and services. We will phase up to regular service, adding lunch and then dinner. Is weekend brunch in our future? Why not…?!
Will you have indoor and outdoor seating?
We will pay attention to COVID-19, and use that to inform our decisions in terms of opening indoors. And of course the weather will determine outdoor seating. But we have a beautiful dining room with a great mezzanine that we can use for public and private events.
Why are you so excited about having your own space?
Having our own space gives us the agency to create a place that is “ours”. A place that extends beyond a traditional restaurant space. A place that represents our diverse cultures as a team at Mera, and the community that we integrated into Baltimore. It is a vehicle to share our cultures; the aroma of cardamom in a rice dish, the tangy spices of salsa verde, fruity, tropical baked goods, and the refreshing gingery mint juices of Burkina Faso. Since we started Mera four years ago, we’ve had the pleasure of working with many incredible individuals in Baltimore, and we’re excited to bring those experiences into our new home. This space is an opportunity for our chefs to fully express themselves, re-invent their food, collaborate with one another, and most importantly take the Baltimore community on a culinary adventure around the world. We believe in the power of communing over food, on long tables, with shared plates, in conversation, and in pausing to connect with one another.
What will the new space be like? What can we expect?
We believe in centering our community when we envision the design of our space. We believe not only in creating a "space" - a physical design of Mera Kitchen that is functional - but more importantly, a “place” - a welcoming emotional experience for our community. Since the inception of Mera, we strive to create an inviting place of abundance and collectivism. We believe food is to be shared and is a means to learn about one another and have a meaningful exchange with another human being. The space will function as a restaurant and a community space, where people can meet over a meal or over one cup of tea. A space to create free cultural events and programming that represents our community. We envision this place to be like a plaza, where the community interacts and enhances our understanding of each others cultures.
Sounds great. What else can I do help?
We are so happy you asked! First, as soon as we open, come visit us and tell all your friends, and their friends...forever! We're still catering, so reach out via our website it you'd like us to cater your next event.
Note: If you prefer to make a tax-deductible donation, you can do so via Maryland Philanthropy Network . These donations will help us continue our community meal commitment.
Organizer
Mera Kitchen Collective
Organizer
Baltimore, MD
