Tacos 4 Life arrived in town with a two-fold mission a month ago-to bring different kinds of tacos to the Texarkana restaurant scene and to feed hungry children. According to company officials, they've managed to accomplish both missions.
"We've had a great start in Texarkana," said Toney Livingston, manager for Texarkana Tacos 4 Life. "We've managed to get the funds to provide 100,000 meals for kids, courtesy of our customers, in the first month we've been in business here. In addition, the reviews have been great and we've lots of repeat customers, supporting what we do."
Livingston said the combo of good food and good mission makes the difference.
"Our customers enjoy the food and know what mission they are supporting," he said.
Austin Samuelson, co-founder of Tacos 4 Life, said 100,000 meals is above average for what one of their restaurants generates in a month.
"Twenty-two cents from every meal purchased at Tacos 4 Life goes to support this program," Samuelson said. "We support Feed My Starving Children, and every Tacos 4 Life sends the funds they gather to this organization once a month. The funds are used to buy nutritious meals that are sent to hungry children throughout the world."
Purchasing the meals at Tacos 4 Life is not the only way customers can participate in this effort. They get chances to help put these meals together to be sent around the world.
"Our Mobile Pack events are used to put together these meals and get them ready to ship," Samuelson said. "During the year, communities are invited at different locations to help assemble these meals and get them ready to go. Eighteen thousand kids are dying per day from malnutrition and starvation. Tacos 4 Life enables us to do something about this."
Visitors to Tacos 4 Life can see an example of the Mobile Pack meals.
"You get to touch it, see for yourself, get an idea of what you are supporting," he said. "We visit the places these meals are sent and see firsthand the children receiving the food, the impact it is having."
Livingston said the response of Texarkana's Tacos 4 Life customers has been overwhelming.
"Wow," he said. "There's always the uncertainty of opening a new restaurant. But it was great to see Texarkana come out and support this place. We really appreciate them being patient as we got set up. And we look forward to seeing where it goes from here. We thank our customers and the Texarkana community.
"We will continue raising funds, buying meals for kids and reward our guests as they come to Tacos 4 Life. Our regulars get recognized."