Philando Castile’s Cousin Donated 300 Meals From His Own Restaurant To The Minneapolis Community

From Delish

While protests in support of the Black Lives Matter movement are taking place, communities and businesses are finding ways to give back and lend much-needed support. One such business is Trio Plant-Based in Minneapolis, a vegan spot owned by the late Philando Castile's cousin, Lois Hunter.

Protests in support of the Black Lives Matter movement are happening all over the nation, with many concentrated in the Minnesota area in response to the murder of George Floyd that happened in Minneapolis last week. The protests hit close to home for Hunter, as Castile was also killed by law enforcement in 2016.

To show his support, Hunter gave out 300 vegan soul bowls to members of the community that needed food during the demonstrations, included protesters or individuals whose nearby grocery stores or convenience stores were destroyed. Trio's menu includes a variety of plant-based comfort food items—burgers, nachos, mac & cheese.

Trio is operated with the values of the Black Lives Matter movement in mind. According to Veg News, Hunter was wrongfully arrested on a number of felony riot charges after attending a protest in honor of his cousin in 2016. He fought to dismiss the charges for years, and in 2018 he opened up Trio. The restaurant serves plant-based food, hires a majority of people of color, pays all employees a fair wage, and does not exclude employees based on previous criminal history.

Over the weekend, Hunter closed down his restaurant to keep his employees safe amidst the protests and handed out hand sanitizer to protesters. While he was safeguarding his store front and offering a place for journalists to find refuge during the protests, he was approached by armed policemen and who tried to urge him to leave his restaurant. The entire incident was caught on camera, and Trio later released a statement confirming that Hunter and his family are okay.

Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Hunter is working to reopen Trio Plant-Based to the community in the safest way possible. "We are working on a plan to reopen Trio as soon as possible. We want to take the right precautions before doing so. We will be updating you guys shortly of when that day will be," Trio wrote on Instagram.

To learn more about Trio Plant-Based, their menu offerings, and ways to donate or buy gift cards, check out Trio's website and social channels.

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