If you are driving down 6th and Walnut Street in Reading, Pa around noon time every Wednesday you will see a line coming out of this bodega (corner store). You may wonder if on Wednesdays they have really good deals? Let us tell you about these lines and about why we choose to feature Moises Abreu (age 32), aka Mo the owner of the New Heightz Grocery store on the cover of this month’s edition.
He has owned the bodega here in Reading, Pa. since 2013. However, he was transplanted from and was born and raised in New York in Washington Heights, but his parents come from San Francisco de Macoris, Dominican Republic. When he was growing up in New York his dad had a bodega and at the age of 8 or 9 his dad would allow him to run the store and that is where he got a taste for running bodegas. However, growing up what he loved to do was play basketball and he mentions that it kept him out of trouble. In the year 2006 when he was sixteen when his family decided to move to PA. At the time he disliked the move, but he finished high school and started college. He eventually dropped out of college due to having his first daughter and the fact that he felt it was too much for him at the time and the responsibility of being a father was a priority.
He came back to Reading and he started to work for his mom’s friend’s bodega and at the early age of nineteen he later ended up owning that same bodega. He ran it for about two years and then sold it and bought the building where he currently runs the bodega now called New Heightz. However, for 9 years he continued to work at Deka while also running the bodega.
He occasionally started doing small things for the community especially during the holidays, but it wasn’t until about 2 years ago, where he met a homeless guy named Darnell and it changed his life. He would always come to the bodega and ask for food and so he was helped in any way possible. Darnell felt that to pay back what Mo was doing for him, he would stay and accompany Mo until closing time. He wanted to make sure Mo was okay. Darnell grew on him, and Mo decided he wanted to do more besides just give him money and allow him to stay in his basement. But one day Mo asked him; “how can I repay you for what you do for me?” and he mentioned that he did volunteer work on Mondays Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Friday’s, so Mo asked him; “what about Wednesdays?” he said they are closed, so Mo responded; “from now on I’ll take that day and feed the people.” And that is what he continues to do today. Now every Wednesday Mo gives his community a meal to go, snacks and juice or water. It doesn’t matter if you live in a shelter or just down the street or work nearby. Or if you are just down on tough times temporarily and this meal could be really helping you out. It doesn’t matter because there are no questions asked, there are no judgments.
Mo has now fallen in love with giving back to the community ever since. He always was looking to give back on a consistent basis and now has found a perfect match. He also feels that Darnell was sent to him with a purpose. Mo now looks forward to it every week and states that it will be part of him for the rest of his life. Giving back fulfills him. The people love and hug him, especially because he gives back with no judgment and expects nothing in return.
Moises may you be filled with abundance and health. Thanks for what you do, you are truly an unsung hero in my eyes.
The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek – Joseph Campbell
Rosa Julia Parra
CEO, Palo Magazine
