Portland’s Filipino Restaurants Are Fundraising for the Lapu Lapu Car Attack Victims | Eater Portland

"An event space in the Hosford-Abernethy neighborhood that is run by Portland hospitality industry veterans and provides services for AAPI community members who might not have the means to book an event space normally, sometimes offering a sliding scale for fees. It is hosting a fundraising meryenda from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, May 5, bringing together local Filipino food carts, pop-ups and restaurants to raise money for families of victims of the Lapu Lapu attack; proceeds will go to families using links to individual crowdfunding campaigns provided by Vancouver’s Filipino Emergency Response. The organizers previously staged a similar meryenda-themed benefit in January to help those impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires. Carlo Lamagna, a co-owner who also runs one of the participating restaurants, frames the effort this way: “If we can give to our community, eventually it’ll give back to us as well.” He adds, “Whenever something happens in the community... the Filipino businesses come together,” and, “We’re like, ‘Hey, somebody needs our help. Someone threw up the bat signal.’” He also notes, “This tragedy that happened in Vancouver, it doesn’t matter the distance. They’re still our community members." - Harry Cheadle