Hello, my name is Malinda Grow and I am launching this campaign on behalf of my aunt Joleen Maldonado and her small family business Alitas, that is in need of your help. Since Go Fund Me does not support fundraising directly from LATAM, I am stepping into help share her story below:

Hello Everyone,

We did not start Alitas in a perfect situation—we built it with heart, resilience, and a belief that good food brings people together. After moving from Los Angeles to Colombia, my partner Santiago and I faced the challenges of starting fresh in a new country. Even with his experience as a seasoned chef, building something from the ground up in a small town was uncharted territory for us both. In July 2025, we launched Alitas as a home-based restaurant. What started as a small idea quickly turned into something meaningful. Through word of mouth and the incredible support of our community, people began to find us, return, and share our food with others. But this year has tested us in ways we did not expect. Heavy rains flooded our yard—the same space where we serve customers. We were forced to shut down for over a month to rebuild. During that time, our main refrigerator failed, wiping out much of our inventory. In an instant, the savings we had carefully set aside for growth disappeared. What was meant to be our “rainy day fund” was, quite literally, washed away. We have done everything we can to keep moving forward, but the reality is this: Our current setup limits who we can serve. Right now, most of our customers need transportation to reach us—and in our town, that is not something everyone has access to. We know there are many more people we could serve if we were simply closer, more visible, and easier to reach. My goal is to raise $6,500 USD to secure a small food stall in the town center—the heart of the pueblo, just 2 miles away. This step would allow us to:

- Have access to non stop foot traffic

- Create a stable, weather-proof space

- Cover permits, licensing, and utility fees

- Purchase equipment

I truly understand the weight of asking for help—especially right now, when the global economy is stretching everyone thin. This is not something taken lightly. Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us one step closer to rebuilding what was lost—and growing into something stronger. And if you cannot donate, sharing this campaign means just as much to us. Thank you for being part of our story.

— Team Alitas / Joleen, Santiago and Cookie (our dog), Zion (our cat), Pearl and Brad

Pigg (our mini pigs)