NWA couple creates organization to combat food insecurity in Hispanic community
BENTONVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A local couple created an organization to combat food insecurity in the Hispanic community.
Juan and Susana Bahena have been serving the Northwest Arkansas community since January 2020 when they opened Tula in downtown Fayetteville.
“We wanted to open to really introduce people to authentic Mexican dishes and kind of educate people about our culture,” Juan said.
He says the community really supported them and now they’re finding a way to give back.
“Working through the restaurant, we realized that food is something that’s important to us, and we really wanted to help with the food insecurity here in the region,” Juan said.
The couple created Casa Dos Alas which means “House of Two Wings.” Their goal is to help give food to those in need in the Hispanic community.
According to Feeding America, 467,550 people are facing hunger in Arkansas. Juan says the Hispanic demographic is highly affected.
“We would like to really reduce that number and help out as much as we can,” Juan said.
Growing up, the couple experienced food insecurity in their own homes.
“I always thought that it was just my family and we were the only ones going through it. And I didn’t understand that when I was 10, 11 or 12,” Juan said. “Now that I’m a little bit older, I realized that I was naive because it’s something that’s still a problem that even people that work with us at the restaurant are going through.”
Susana says their parents had to worry about putting food on the table.
“We didn’t realize that people were going through all of that, and so it was an eye-opener,” Susana said.
The couple has a daughter who is learning about food in her culture, and they want her to continue to eat it as she gets older.
“We wanted to do that with the families that are in need as well, so they don’t lose that sense of their identity as well,” Susana said.
Bentonville thrift store says donations are being stolen
Juan says food insecurity is still a problem, even with people at their restaurant.
“We feel that that’s very just alarming that even people that are within the food industry are having a hard time getting food just doesn’t make sense,” Juan said.
Casa Dos Alas is partnering with the Northwest Food Bank to give food that is part of their culture.
Juan says their funding will come from events they are planning.
One of the events is a culinary series.
“To really help to bridge that gap and help people understand not only just Hispanic families, but non-Hispanic families and communities to come in and learn how to make some of our dishes and to really, at that point, embrace our community and different cultures of learning how to make typical Mexican or Hispanic dishes,” Juan said.
They are also hosting a fundraising event on June 15 in Bentonville called Noche en Jalisco Tequila Experience.
Juan says it will help people understand what they’re doing while also enjoying a good evening of learning the process of tequila making which is the spirit of Mexico.
“And that’s another way that we want to continue to help is to just push our culture to everyone here in the area. I think that if people really understand who you are and where you come from, they’re more willing to help. So, we thought that that would be a good event, starting off with tequila,” Juan said.
Another event is a pop-up market in East Springdale.
“In Mexico, a lot of the time you have traveling markets and these markets come into your neighborhood and you can choose fresh produce, proteins, home goods, house goods, anything that you need,” Juan said.
He says Peddle it Forward, a non-profit organization that gives bikes to kids, parents, and those in need, reached out to them for a partnership.
“We think it’s really cool to have not only will we be able to provide food and different things of that sort, but also have things that maybe these children also are having a hard time getting something as simple as a bike,” Juan said. “And I think that that’s going to be something that’s going to make an impact hopefully on the community.”
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
