According to official data, the town of Nova Gradiška has some 12,500 inhabitants. However, the locals say there are about 5,000 people left in the town. Shops, cafes and restaurants were closing down over time until two weeks ago. Then a new fast food restaurant opened in Nova Gradiška, offering pancakes for 10 kuna, sandwiches for 15 kuna and pizzas for 26 kuna. And if you do not have the money to pay – you will not stay hungry, reports RTL on January 18, 2019.
The 21-year-old entrepreneur Dora Vukšić has recently opened the restaurant. It is the first restaurant in Croatia to provide free meals feed to people who do not have enough money to pay. “People contact us on Facebook. They say they want a pancake, we prepare it, write that it is the pancake for that person. Before the person arrives, we pay for it, and the receipt stays with us. They just come to collect the meal,” explained Dora.
Everybody is welcome to come. And the employees of the restaurant guarantee them anonymity. “Most of them contact us over the phone or through the Facebook profile. There have been about a dozen such people, although we expected them to come in larger numbers. Perhaps people are ashamed to come,” Dora said.
Four people are employed in the restaurant and everyone, including Dora, have the same minimum wage. As soon as the business results allow it, she says she will increase everyone’s salaries, with her coming last. She explained that she is still getting used to being an entrepreneur. “I have a seal, and I have to carry it in my bag all the time. Still, I am happy because I know I am working for myself and I know it will be worth it,” said Dora.
The young mom used to work different jobs, including being a cleaner in Munich, Germany. But when she realised that it was not all milk and honey in Germany, she returned to Slavonia. Her fellow citizens are delighted; they say the town has finally woken up.
About 800 pizzas have come out of the restaurant kitchen since the beginning of the year. The business is doing better than expected, and they need more workers. “We are looking for a kitchen worker, but no one wants to work,” said Dora.
The young team, which feeds those who do not have the money to do it themselves, hopes that other restaurants will follow their example.
More news on charity initiatives in Croatia can be found in the Lifestyle section.
Translated from RTL (reported by Aida Šukurica).
