Minneapolis chef and butcher raises money for the Lebanese Red Cross

CATHY WURZER: It's been a month since Israel launched a ground invasion in Lebanon in the escalating conflict with Hezbollah. More than 2,700 people in Lebanon have been killed. More than a million have been displaced since the Hamas attacks on Israel. That's according to the latest estimates reported by the BBC. This violence is also taking a toll on Minnesotans with ties to the region, and we've talked to people with loved ones in Gaza, Israel, and Lebanon over the past year.

We're turning right now to a Minneapolis business owner who has family in Lebanon. Louisa Farhat is the owner of Sweet Lou's Craft Sausage and Butchery, a retailer and food truck. She recently spoke with our partners at Sahan Journal about her efforts to raise money for the Lebanese Red Cross, and Louise is on the line. Thanks for taking the time. How have you been, if I can ask?

LOUISA FARHAT: I am good. Thanks for bringing me on to talk about it a little bit.

CATHY WURZER: Yeah. It's got to be really hard. What are you hearing from your family?

LOUISA FARHAT: Yeah, it is really hard. We're hearing a lot of things. We're lucky that they are still in a safe space. They're not in the area that's being bombed, and they have homes and are used to having to evacuate to the mountains if need be. Yeah. We're hearing a lot of fear, a lot of anger, a lot of frustration over what's happening, and a lot of concern for what comes next.

CATHY WURZER: What are you hearing from other Lebanese families that you know in the area?

LOUISA FARHAT: Well, I think we're all in the same place. It's hard to be here in a really safe place thinking about your family there, not knowing, again, what comes next. I think this last year has shown us the possibilities, and so to think that might come to our families and friends is devastating.

CATHY WURZER: I was thinking back. I know your family's been involved with-- is it Saint Maron's?

LOUISA FARHAT: Saint Maron's.

CATHY WURZER: Saint Maron's-- thanks-- the Catholic Church there, which has a big Lebanese festival, and it was happening this year just as this conflict was escalating. So what was it like to be a part of an event that brings people together, celebrating Lebanese culture at a very difficult time?

LOUISA FARHAT: Well, I think that really highlights something that I think is so unique about Lebanese people. It's almost like the joy of coming together and dancing and eating and celebrating our culture never stops. No matter what's happening, no matter what the conflict is, no matter the situation, that is something that the Lebanese people are known to continue to enjoy no matter what's happening around them.

And I think we really saw that this year. I think at these times when things are really frightening in Lebanon, it's really helpful to be surrounded by each other and our community supporting us and showing us how much love they have for us.

CATHY WURZER: It sounds like you're kind of getting strength from folks around you, your own family. Why are you raising money for the Lebanese Red Cross? What are you trying to do?

LOUISA FARHAT: Well, like I said, we all know it's been a very long, hard year. And when I think about what's been happening over the past year, it's not an Arab issue. It's not a Lebanese issue. It's a humanitarian issue. It's a humanitarian crisis. The death and destruction we've seen has been horrific.

And at times, you feel just so helpless. And so when it was starting to really come into Lebanon-- which we knew was going to happen-- but when it really happened in that place of just like crippling helplessness, I felt like I needed to do something. And this fundraiser was a way I could do something.

CATHY WURZER: Did you have a chance to talk to your family about this? What are they thinking?

LOUISA FARHAT: About the fundraiser?

CATHY WURZER: Yeah.

LOUISA FARHAT: I mean, yeah, of course they're very supportive of it. They're happy to have people talking about what's happening. They're excited to see people interested in it. My family in Lebanon saw it on social media and were very excited to see that people in Minnesota care about what's happening there. And for me, it's been a really hard year, so it's nice to see people show up with those vouchers and meet some new friends.

CATHY WURZER: I'm wondering here, Louisa, is there any way that you ever want to go to Lebanon once the conflict is tamped down, maybe simmers down? Would you want to go over there and maybe do some hands on work yourself, perhaps?

LOUISA FARHAT: With the Red Cross?

CATHY WURZER: Yeah.

LOUISA FARHAT: I mean, that's not something that I've ever really considered. Of course, we'll want to go back when things have calmed down a bit. But right now, I feel like the things that I can do are fundraise and spread the word about what's happening.

CATHY WURZER: By the way, how much money have you raised so far?

LOUISA FARHAT: As of right now, we've raised a little over $700.

CATHY WURZER: Wow, good. You're on your way. Do you have a goal?

LOUISA FARHAT: We don't have a goal. I really had no idea what was going to happen with this. The last time we did a fundraiser like this, it was for Gaza last year, and I was able to make a specialty sausage called na'anik, which sells like crazy because it's so hard to find here. It's this delicious Middle Eastern sausage.

But we were too busy this year for me to do that, so I thought we would try the vouchers. And honestly, it's gone way better than I expected. I didn't think we'd raise this much, and I'm thrilled and grateful. We have one more day of the fundraiser. Hopefully, we raise a little bit more.

CATHY WURZER: Good for you. Now, before we go, what message do you want to leave with listeners who may wish to make a contribution, who want to hear something from you that would maybe get them to help you out?

LOUISA FARHAT: Well, if you wanted to contribute, the best way to do so is to go to our website, www.sweetlousmeats.com, and you can buy a voucher there. You can donate more, if you like. They're usable on the truck or our retail sausages. And we kind of mentioned this in the post.

If you donate, you get to spend it on the truck. But also, you'll be our favorite person we see that day. It's really, really, really inspiring and helpful to see people showing up with these vouchers and their kind words and their support of the situation have been really helpful and wonderful. Yeah. I hope to see you all soon.

CATHY WURZER: Excellent. Louisa, thank you so much, and best of luck.

LOUISA FARHAT: Thank you.

CATHY WURZER: Louisa Farhat owns Sweet Lou's Craft Sausage and Butchery in Minneapolis.