DALLAS — To most, Wednesday was another busy day at Elaine’s Jamaican Kitchen in South Dallas. However, for Matthew Graham, every meal counts. “You can always look out for yourself, but others may need more help than you,” said Matthew Graham, Elaine’s Jamaican Kitchen.
He and others who work at the restaurant are from Jamaica. Their families there sent videos showing how they are waiting out Hurricane Beryl. The deadly storm claimed the lives of at least six people in the southeast Caribbean. It became the earliest Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic on record.
“Nobody wants their family to go through any type of hurricanes, tornadoes, any kind of storm like that. It’s very concerning,” said Graham.
Elaine’s Jamaican Kitchen has amped up a long tradition. “Every time I go to the store, it’s a thought of Jamaica. Hey, let’s pick these two bags of rice up. Let’s pick this up. Let’s pick that up and before you know it, I have a stockpile and we send it off,” said Graham.
They delivered food and toiletries to Jamaica on Tuesday, before the storm. Throughout the restaurant are reminders honoring the person who started it all, Elaine. She died last Easter.
Elaine opened the restaurant and started the efforts of helping families in Jamaica. She is also Graham’s aunt. “She was the lady who wants to give back, the lady who always wants to do for somebody else,” said Graham. “She came from Jamaica, and she knows the struggle in Jamaica.”
Once a month, they send barrels of food to Jamaica. This month, they’re preparing to send more to help those impacted by the hurricane.
“If you don’t have something to give to someone, you can feed them. If you don't have money to give to someone, you can always feed them,” said Graham. “I’ve got to carry it on. It’s in me through her, through my mother. I have to do it.”
Anyone can help in the effort. You can donate nonperishable foods and supplies to Elaine’s Jamaican Kitchen at 2717 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.