The Heart Tattoo Society

In the spring of 2020, amid the pandemic, Mackenzie Baxfield, recently laid off as an events coordinator, and Evan Reeks from the restaurant industry, noticed the severe impact of COVID-19 on the Downtown East Side and the massive food waste. They decided to recover and redistribute food to those in need. In April 2021, they serendipitously met Roman Ansari, the Director of Admissions at a college where they were registering for a course. Sharing their vision for aiding the Downtown East Side, they collaborated with Roman, who used his law and finance expertise to help establish their initiative as a legal Not-for-Profit Organization. By November 2021, The Heart Tattoo Society was officially registered and has continued to thrive with community support. With the backing of various business partners, the organization has expanded its reach and impact, further strengthening its role in supporting vulnerable populations.