MELBOURNE
With huge loss of life, property and many displaced, Goan families have opened their homes to victims of the wildfire, offering free supplies and emergency boarding at no cost.
Fellow Goans Angel Angie TJ Fernandes, Frank Fernandes and his team at Arti Organic Indian Cuisine in Lagunitas have been providing meals to the displaced families.
Similarly, Sharon and Lino, owners of another popular Goan restaurant ‘Little Goan Indian Café', along with Eulogio Pereira have extended their help in time of great need. Both restaurants and their teams have been providing meals to several displaced families in collaboration with the local community organizations.
The California wildfires have charred more than 220,000 acres of land, forced about 75,000 residents to evacuate and damaged or destroyed at least 5,700 homes and businesses, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
President of the CalifornianGoans Joseph Lourenco applauded the generosity of the Goan families during this moment of crises.
"They have done it all out of their own accord, we are really proud of them as Goans and also proud that they are part of the CalifornianGoans," said Lourenco.
"It's a huge loss not just of life and property, some have lost their earnings," he said and expressed sadness over the loss of life.
The two restaurant owners have assured that they would continue to support the affected people in every possible manner whenever the need arises. Described as one of the finest Indian and Goan restaurants in Novato - California, Little Goan Indian Cafe provides traditional Indian cuisine and a wide vegetarian choice formulated from authentic recipes. The cuisine is a fresh and original approach to Indian cooking, drawn from a famously rich and diverse culinary tradition.
Arti Indian Cafe boasts itself as a reflection of true Indian cuisine and prides itself as the textures, aroma and essential flavours from the heart
of India.
