El Comedor de la Kennedy, a community initiative founded by chef Iván Clemente, began providing services in Arecibo on Wednesday with support from the municipal government. Arecibo Mayor Carlos R. Ramírez Irizarry welcomed Clemente to the city during an event at the former Luis Muñoz Rivera School. The program, operating on Adriano González Street, will serve hot meals through a drive-through service to children, older adults, college students, families, and people experiencing economic or other hardships.
The initiative honors the late municipal legislator María Vilella, who began discussions with Clemente about bringing the program to the city before her death. Clemente has spent 42 years working on social and charitable initiatives and created El Comedor de la Kennedy in 2009 after recognizing that communities in his native Puerto Rico faced challenges like social inequality, poverty, and hunger.
The Arecibo location represents an expansion of the community initiative and will provide another source of food assistance for residents in need. The municipality’s support for the program is part of its broader effort to promote social welfare, community solidarity, and direct assistance to families and individuals facing difficult circumstances.