If you’re a regular at the Essex Street Market, you know Dionisio Silva. The longtime Lower East butcher works for Heritage Meats and was behind the counter at Jeffrey’s Meat Market for several years. Silva has been battling cancer and is now too sick to come to work. In recent weeks, his friends and colleagues have been raising money for medical care and to help him travel home to Brazil. Here’s more from their crowd-funding page:
Silva’s an institution. If you don’t know him for his dry-aged steaks, then you’ll recognize him by his charming accent and warm smile. He’s been absent from the shop, as I’m sure many have noticed, more frequently over the past few months. Silva has for a long time been battling cancer and has recently been having an increasingly difficult time managing his symptoms. We want to help Silva get home to Brazil so that he can be with his daughter and enjoy the country he is so proud to call home. Please help us get Silva the care and attention he needs so that he can travel and reunite with his family. Every contribution helps! 100% of the proceeds will go toward helping Silva pay for treatment and travel back to Brazil.
So far about $3,000 has been rasied out of $5,000. Click here if you would like to contribute.
Also, Heritage Meats is holding a fundraiser this coming Sunday for Silva at the Magician at 118 Rivington St., between 6-9 p.m.
