A local restaurant owner is encouraging goodwill not only during the holidays but all year, inspiring others to pay it forward.
The holidays are often filled with goodwill and generosity, but some inspire us to exhibit such an ethos year-round. As we tie a bow on 2023 and begin to unwrap 2024, The Dallas Express had the joy of speaking with one such inspiration.
Jeremy Lowe owns Nearly Famous Burger and Hotdogs in Arlington and has a pay-it-forward mindset.
His restaurant opened in 2020 off Arkansas Lane near New York Avenue in West Arlington. Only a short time after opening, Lowe realized he needed to expand.
“It was a fantastic problem to have. We needed more space. I wanted a sit-down restaurant with a drive-through,” he said.
Lowe moved Nearly Famous Burgers and Hotdogs to its new location at 2502 Little Rd. in Arlington in 2022.
“We don’t have a drive-through yet, but by the summer of 2024, we hope to have enough money to put one in,” said Lowe.
Lowe’s passion for serving extends well beyond burgers and hotdogs.
“It really started last year,” explained Lowe. “Last year, I partnered with When We Love and the Turnkey Foundation on Christmas Day. We set up at When We Love at 1100 E. Lancaster Ave. in Fort Worth to serve those in need. We never asked for any publicity — we just served. We were out of food within 45 minutes to an hour,” said Lowe.
He and his partners served 500 food units that day, including 300 burgers and 200 hotdogs. Because they did not promote the event, Lowe explained that they received few donations. However, Lowe’s restaurant landlord, Ted Machi, generously donated $500 to cover the cost of the meat.
Lowe aims to double these numbers this year, but to do so he knew he had to get the word out and bring in some help.
“I learned you have to tell your story. People want to help. They really do,” said Lowe. “Our goal this year is to serve 1,000 units of food on New Year’s Day: 500 burgers, 500 hotdogs, from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. at the same location as last year.”
Once word spread, Lowe said he was humbled by the response from people wanting to help with the New Year’s event.
“Within a week and a half after asking for help, all the meat was paid for by the community. Then, the bread was paid for. Then the chips,” said Lowe.
“Now people are donating socks, gloves, beanies, and more. Mark from Turnkey got with a supplier, and they are using donated funds for sleeping bags for the homeless. It’s incredible.”
When asked why he chose New Year’s Day this year over Christmas Day, Lowe explained that many organizations lend a hand over Christmas. He said he wants those in need to have something to look forward to beyond December.
Lowe puts these words into action year-round at Nearly Famous Burger and Hotdogs, where he started an initiative to have customers pre-pay for meals for people who otherwise could not afford them.
“This began with one man who wanted to remain anonymous. He came into the restaurant and gave me $500, telling me to use it to help ‘feed the community,'” said Lowe. And this is precisely what Lowe continues to do.
Lowe has a wall in his restaurant of pre-paid receipts from customers who have generously donated a meal for someone in need. Individuals who are struggling to feed themselves can come in, take one of the pre-paid receipts to the counter, and redeem it with no questions asked, explained Lowe.
“I don’t ever want the wall to die,” said Lowe.
He discussed how when his two daughters were younger, he would spend the days with them before Christmas making care packages for those experiencing homelessness.
“We would spend every Christmas giving back,” Lowe explained. “We would put together toothbrushes, socks, and gloves and give these care packages to those who needed them.”
In Dallas, however, where residents have been expressing displeasure with the levels of homelessness and vagrancy on the streets, City officials have instituted a campaign to discourage direct giving.
“The City of Dallas Office of Homeless Solutions created the Give Responsibly Campaign (GRC) to redirect street charity to charitable and non-profit organizations that specialize in serving the City’s most vulnerable population,” stated the City.
“By partnering with existing service providers, we can fulfill the needs of our neighbors with dignity and compassion while promoting systemic change,” per a statement from the City previously given to The Dallas Express.
“You can’t help everyone, but you can do your part. And your part is good enough in the eyes of God,” said Lowe.
***
When We Love is a non-profit homeless ministry founded by Gary Wilkerson Jr., who experienced the devastating effects of homelessness firsthand with his two teenage daughters. While one lost her life, the other is still experiencing homelessness and suffers from addiction. The group has a current needs wishlist that you can view here.
Turnkey Foundation, founded by Mark Feuling, is a non-profit organization that meets community needs by helping other nonprofits fulfill their mission goals.