Argrow’s House, a healing house for survivors of domestic violence and abuse, will celebrate the launch of survivor-employee Acissa Chamia’s new MozBites food truck at an event on Saturday, April 29.
Along with MozBites serving food, Argrow’s will hold its annual Mother’s Day Grab Bag Event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its center, 2313 44th St., Moline.
Guests will enjoy MozBite’s samosas and donuts as well as have the opportunity to purchase Argrow’s $20 grab bags, which include a special edition Mother’s Day soap, bath balm, lotion and a unique gift, such as a mug, jewelry or chocolate.
In addition to providing services and resources to domestic violence survivors, Argrow’s is a social enterprise hiring survivors to create bath and body products that are sold online and in stores.
Ms. Chamia worked as a survivor-employee at Argrow’s House making the products. She also took advantage of all of the training, education, and support that Argrow’s offers women.
“We are so excited for Acissa and her growing business, and we are proud to help her launch MozBites food truck,” Kit Ford, founder and director of Argrow’s House, said in a news release. “We’ve watched her journey and have done our best to support her entrepreneurial efforts in every way we possibly could.”
Ms. Ford described Ms. Chamia as “an incredible woman, a dear mother,” adding “We can’t wait for people to experience her food truck offerings.”
Ms. Chamia grew up in Mozambique, a country in east Africa, and learned how to make samosas – a fried pastry with a savory filling – as a teenager from her mother. “I enjoyed cooking with my mom and now I’m using what she taught me as a business,” the mother of two young children said in the release. “My mom is very happy and is glad that I learned this skill from her.”
After first selling her bites at the Freight House Farmers Market in 2020, Ms. Chamia gained fans and began to see her business flourish – leading her to open her new MozBites food truck. “The food truck will help because I’ll be able to sell in other places. I’m grateful for the people who have bought my food and have enjoyed it,” she said. “They have helped me grow.”
