A downtown restaurant will host a charity brunch July 20 to raise money for flood victims in Texas.
From 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., “or as long as you can come,” guests are welcome to a $20 Syrian meal at Sanaa’s Gourmet Mediterranean. All proceeds will go to World Center Kitchen.
“We are better together,” said owner Sanaa Abourezk. “There is no border when you need to help someone have a hot meal.”
As of July 16, 134 people have died in the Texas floods that occurred July 4, including 37 children, according to Texas officials. Over 100 people are still missing, and search operations are ongoing in Kerr County.
Abourezk has hosted fundraisers for World Center Kitchen before, most recently raising $12,000 in 2022, at the beginning of the Ukrainian war.
She also supported them during the pandemic and first raised $7,000 during Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
She said World Center Kitchen is already “on the ground” in Texas providing “hot meals for anyone affected by the floods.” The worldwide nonprofit organization partners with local resources to serve volunteers and families.
“It’s good for a good cause,” said Abourezk, who is a two-time James Beard Award nominee and most recently was voted “One of the Best in the U.S.” as part of USA Today’s “Best Restaurants of the Year 2025.”