“Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.” Robin Sharma
Chef Dino Impagliazzo is very famous in Rome but it’s not because of his delicious dishes but because of his good heart.
To the people of Rome, he’s known as the “chef of the poor” because he wholeheartedly prepares and even delivers meals to the homeless.
It all started last 2006. Chef Dino Impagliazzo was waiting at a train station when by chance, he met a homeless man. He was drawn to him and they talked.
The retired chef realized that this poor homeless man was asking for a few change because he was hungry – the places where he can get free meals were closed on Sundays.
Dino knew what he needed to do not just for this person for those who needed his help. He didn’t stop by giving his new friend a meal, from this meeting, he began his mission and until this day, the name “chef of the poor” has been known.
“I realized that perhaps instead of buying one sandwich, making some sandwiches for him and for the friends who were there would be better, and thus began our adventure,” he said in his interview with Reuters.
From then on, the “chef of the poor” would visit the station and along with him, he brings foods for countless homeless people who are cold and hungry.
Soon, Dino and his friends along with many volunteers launched RomAmoR – a non-profit group that helped around 80 people. Not long after that, more and more people wanted to help, this beautiful news reached hearts and they wanted to support Dino.
Today, at the age of 90, Dino has bought an establishment that caters to over 300 volunteers. Together, they prepare more than 800 meals each week that they give away to the people who need it.
At his old age, this amazing man isn’t stopping his mission. He helps with the cooking and even visits the marketplace to get the unwanted supplies that people give to him.
When he comes to RomAmoR’s kitchen, he along with his volunteers would prepare warm, healthy, and delicious meals.
“We try to involve more and more people so that Rome becomes a city where people can love each other, you know?” Dino shared, “It’s solidarity”.
Each hand offers a labor of love and humanity, each person who volunteers makes Dino’s mission a reality. No matter how many years it has been, they never get tired of doing their volunteer work 3x a week.
This amazing and kind chef has received an honorific award from the Italian President himself Sergio Mattarella. He was recognized as a “hero of our times.”
Truly, Dino the “chef of the poor” deserves this award!
It’s not an easy job for Dino and his volunteers but it’s nice to see the people who come up to you and see them savoring the dish that you have prepared with love. Giving, sharing, and caring never gets old and as Dino shares:
“I am happy because we never tell anyone ‘we don’t need you tonight’,” he said to his interview. “They stay among us.”
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