Photo | Arepas to benefit World Central Kitchen

Community organizer Ayo Banjo, left, shares a joyful moment this week with Herman Sierra at Pana, a Venezuelan restaurant in the Octagon in downtown Santa Cruz that Sierra started with his wife Gabriella Ramirez. Pana is known locally for its selection of arepas, which are cornmeal pockets cooked on a flattop grill, opened and then filled with meats, cheeses and vegetables. Arepas have been prepared for hundreds of years in the region that now makes up Columbia, Panama and Sierra’s native Venezuela. Previously only open for lunch and dinner, Sierra on Friday unveiled Pana’s new breakfast line at their location at 118 Cooper St., Santa Cruz, along with a specially designed “Banjo Arepa” named after Banjo. A portion of every sale of any of the breakfast or Banjo arepas will be donated through May 17 to World Central Kitchen to feed children in war-torn locations around the globe. Banjo said, “This campaign is not just a launch. It’s a commitment to community engagement and international humanitarian efforts. Our collaboration offers a powerful narrative about how local business initiatives and local influencers can play a crucial role in addressing global challenges.” (Shmuel Thaler – Santa Cruz Sentinel)