Courtesy photo Kendra Smith, the owner of Soel Sistas LLC in Nashua, has been preparing food for children in need this week, as well as providing some adults with meals. Earlier this week, she prepared a hamburger bag for the kids, and given its popularity, she will be preparing them again today.

NASHUA – Soel Sistas LLC saw a need and acted fast to secure food and supply people living at three Nashua Housing Authority locations with hot meals.

Owner Kendra Smith, of Nashua, opened her business in May 2019, officially launching in July, and with plenty of experience preparing food, she is now distributing meals three times a week for those in need.

On Monday, she began this initiative, taking $150 from her own company and $75 in donations to go and purchase enough food to get through this week. Smith was able to buy 80 pounds of chicken, 5 pounds of rice, 20 pounds of pasta, two 6-pound cans of sauce, a large bag of individually bagged chips, 150 plastic containers with lids, 3 lbs. of butter, a gallon of milk and 5 lbs. of cheese. Additionally, with community support, she was able to receive over 200 juice boxes, nearly 100 bottles of water, 90 bags of chips, three boxes of brownie mix and seven boxes of Jell-O. Smith also took it upon herself to donate 5 pounds of Italian sausages.

In monetary donations, she already has received hundreds of dollars. On Thursday, Soel Sistas announced via Facebook that the business is up to $750 in donations.

While her services only are three days a week at present time, with the extra money, she said she may be able to add another day, or be able to add something extra for people to have for breakfast. Either way, she said she will definitely be able to keep this going next week, and possibly the week after.

So far, she has been going by the Major Drive location from 5-5:30 p.m.; the Bronstein Apartments from 5:30-6 p.m.; and the 11th Street location from 6-6:30 p.m. to provide meals on Monday and Wednesday. She will be back again today distributing food.

“I lived in Bronstein five years ago,” Smith said. “I’ve grown up in this area, so I know what hard times look like.”

Smith grew up in Lowell, Massachusetts, in the projects, and moved here when she was 12 years old. While reflecting on her younger years, she recalled how her father would feed kids outside in the neighborhood if they looked hungry.

“If we were barbecuing, my dad always threw a couple extra things on the grill,” Smith said.

In carrying on that sense of generosity, Smith was able to feed 52 kids in the community on Monday. On Wednesday, she was able to feed 80 kids and 20 adults. Smith said that for Wednesday’s efforts, Longhorn provided 20 adult chicken meals so they could pass something along to the parents, and that the restaurant will be donating another 20 for today’s disbursement of food. She also said Girls Inc. has donated milk and fruit.

Smith said that Crossways Church contacted her and is going to start a food drive on April 1 to take donations to benefit the initiative. In addition, she said that First Church in Nashua also is helping by donating their commercial kitchen to help her prepare food. Right now, her service is open to anybody at these three Nashua Housing Authority locations.

“However, if there is a senior, or low-income families that can’t get out or don’t have food, I’ll gladly drop one at their door,” Smith said.

Those in need can call 603-943-1469 or visit the Soel Sistas Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SOELSISTASLLC for more information.

On Monday, Smith did a hamburger bag with snacks and a drink, with a pasta option as well. On Wednesday, she served macaroni and cheese with snacks and a drink as well. Smith said that Friday’s meal will again be a hamburger bag since the kids loved it earlier in the week.

Adam Urquhart may be contacted at 594-1206, or at aurquhart@nashuatelegraph.com.

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