Community Heroes: Sari Maharani served thousands of meals to flood victims post-Helene
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — This week's Community Hero took her love of cooking and helped feed people from Southwest Virginia, East Tennessee, and North Carolina after Hurricane Helene.
It wasn't just a meal, but compassion for her community.
Hana Asian Fusion & Sushi Bar opens in Johnson City
After Hurricane Helene, Sari Maharani's (Esther) original plan was to cook 100 meals for survivors and rescuers. Soon, the number of meals needed grew, and so did the volunteers and donations of food and ingredients.
'And of course, I cannot do by myself. No, it's all community,' says Marahani.
One week and two working commercial kitchens later, her meal count was more than ten thousand, distributed to Southwest Virginia, East Tennessee and North Carolina.
'You're so tired, but when you see the masses your food is going to, I would cry,' she said. 'Because that's the only thing I can do. I cook for them, and when that thing happened, you know, you don't have anything anymore. You don't have food, you lost your home, and you lost everything.'
Dozens of volunteers came to cook and put together and deliver boxes of meals, with Sari leading the effort. Those who couldn't help still did their part.
'Some school come to me, a lot of kids that said they cannot help, but they make me small cards and they put the Bible verses on the card and then so I put it in every box, you know, and hoping when people open the box, bring them home, you know, bring them kindness,' she said.
It's not just a plate of food, it's a way of saying, ' I care about you.' Something small that means so much.
Sari says she feels, 'Joy, you know? You know, it's always good to give than take. My late mom, always teaching me you will never be poor when you feed people. Especially those people really in need.'
Sari doesn't ask questions to the people in need and the people who are helping. Everyone works together. Food, she says, brings people together.
'Jesus said, 'Feed them.' That's what I do. You know, I don't care about the people's choice, what people think about it. I only focus on the time people need food. That's my point. I cook for them.'
As she works in her new restaurant, Hana, she feels fortunate that she could pay it forward.
'I never expect a return when you're helping people. It come from your heart just to help … But you know, when you go do good things, sooner or later it will come back to you. That's what I believe.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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