San Jose’s Barya Kitchen Seeks Community Aid After Food Truck Struck in Theft Incident
A San Jose food truck business is facing a financial crisis after their vehicle was hit by a stolen truck, causing significant damage. Barya Kitchen, known for its popular Filipino cuisine, suffered this setback just as they were recovering from the challenges of the pandemic. In an unfortunate twist of fate, the incident occurred while the truck’s operators, Rod Reyes and Selina Wong, were abroad, according to an Instagram post[1] from the business.
On November 26, an unidentified individual trying to steal a food truck slammed into Barya Kitchen’s parked vehicle, shattering glass and bending the metal frame beyond immediate repair. Reyes shared his connection to the food truck, stating, “I was cooking her food in memory of her and also because, I wasn’t going to have my mom’s food ever again,” he said, according to NBC Bay Area[2]. As a result of the damage, the food truck is currently inoperable, forcing the cancelation of various catering engagements and the postponement of a crucial health department inspection.
The repair costs for the truck are estimated to be around £8,000, a hefty sum for the self-funded business. To exacerbate matters, their insurance coverage was terminated on November 8, as their insurer ceased renewals for commercial automobiles. Barya Kitchen’s operations manager, Selina Wong, expressed the emotional toll this has taken: “We were overwhelmed, anxious, sad, frustrated,” she said.
With their main source of income derailed, Reyes and Wong have turned to the community for support, setting up a GoFundMe page[3] initiated by their friend Alex, a food writer and truck enthusiast. Alex describes Barya as a “first gen AAPI Bay Area Owned & Operated food truck business,” that has garnered positive reviews for its unique Filipino American/Filipino Mexican cuisine. “Please donate whatever you can spare, and share this post with your fellow foodie fans,” appealed Alex on the fundraising page. In addition to the online fundraiser, the owners suggested direct donations through Venmo or Zelle for those wishing to avoid the platform’s fees, a detail shared on Barya Kitchen’s Instagram account.
They remain determined to recover from this event and resume serving their patrons, concluding their Instagram update with a mix of hope and anguish: “We won’t be giving up- thank you for any help- we’re gunna keep pushing.” Their resilience and community outreach have stirred a local and online movement to help them get back on their feet and onto the roads of San Jose once more.
References
- ^ Instagram post (www.instagram.com)
- ^ NBC Bay Area (www.nbcbayarea.com)
- ^ GoFundMe page (www.gofundme.com)