Regional Industry & News

‘Take care of your neighbor’: Sanaa’s serves up support for Highmore & WCK

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) - Sanaa’s Gourmet Mediterranean opened its doors on a day it is typically closed, inviting customers to enjoy brunch while supporting communities recovering from disaster.

After severe winds damaged businesses in Highmore, including the town’s only daycare and a newly opened restaurant, owner and chef Sanaa Abourezk said she felt compelled to help.

“If your neighbor is in good shape, you are in good shape. That’s how I grew up, so you take care of your neighbors,” Abourezk said.

Proceeds from Sunday’s fundraiser were split evenly, with 50% benefiting recovery efforts in Highmore and the remaining 50% going to World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit that provides fresh meals to people affected by disasters around the world.

For Abourezk, giving back has become just as important as the meals served inside her restaurant.

“This is what makes us different from anybody else is our humanities. It doesn’t matter what’s your politics, it doesn’t matter what’s your religion, but at the end, we care for each other,” she said.

Abourezk said every act of generosity matters, whether it’s helping a neighboring South Dakota community or supporting disaster relief efforts elsewhere.

That mission resonated with customers who filled the restaurant on Sunday morning.

“You know, Sanaa does so many great things for this community and provides such amazing food that to come down here because she’s supporting Highmore and all of these other causes, it’s like, it was easy to say yes to this. It was so easy,” customer Dee Dee Raap said.

Abourezk and her staff said they hoped the fundraiser would leave more than full stomachs by helping families as they rebuild after disasters.

“And she just has this heart that’s so big and about community, so if you just embrace that, you’re going to be happy eating there and the food’s delicious, so why not?” Raap said.

Abourezk encouraged anyone unable to attend the fundraiser to support Highmore’s recovery by donating directly.

“Anyone who is out of town and you’d like to help you can go to their GoFundMe page and just donate money. Please donate money wherever you can,” she said.