Warwick business owner and immigrant helping hundreds who are hungry ahead of holidays

With an interest in the food industry, initially she took a job in the background.

“My English was not good, it’s still no good, I started work at Rhode Island Hospital in the food service then I said, ‘What I do here, I can do myself,'” said Santos. “I have always wanted to have my own business. I love to deal with the people.”

In 2010, Santos saida friend told her about a business for sale along Post Road in Warwick.

Since then, she’s been the hands-on owner of ‘My Favorite Muffin.’

“I am here 2:30 in the morning to 6 o’clock at night every single day, seven days” said Santos. “It’s real important for customers to know you and see your face every day.”

The café offers a wide variety of food and drinks ranging from sandwiches to bagels, freshly baked muffins and pastries.

They’ve also mastered the craft of freshly brewed coffee and other drinks.

Since Santos is always running her business, she said she sees everything and has made many friends.

Two years ago though, she said she saw something that changed her.

“This lady she’s 92 she pass by the window outside she’s very dizzy I could tell,” said Santos. “I told my customers give me a minute, I went to help her I asked her, ‘Why are you dizzy?’ She tells me, ‘I don’t eat for two days.'”

“I helped her, I wanted to help more seniors and people. My customers are number one. I tell them what happened. I say, I want to help because I help all year long, my customers but I said, ‘I want to give something more for more people.'”

That’s how Santos’s ‘Harvest Food Drive’ was created.

Last year, she put out boxes in her restaurant and the community helped her get 2,500 pounds of food for senior citizens and those in need ahead of Thanksgiving.

Once again, she’s back at it this year.

Non-perishable food items can be donated, or picked up, no questions asked.

“This way they can walk in before Thanksgiving, they can get their own food, grab whatever they want over there,” she said. “Already they started grabbing food. They come over. I have a bag in the back. I fill it up for them. I tell them, ‘Take whatever you need.”‘

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Besides the food drive to help people fill their cabinets on the actual Thanksgiving holiday, Santos cooks a full Thanksgiving meal and offers it to anyone in need.

During Christmas, she helps those in nursing homes and purchases presents for those less fortunate.

“My mom had seven kids. My mom worked very hard to give us everything. I never had a present for Christmas in my life. I was 16, I still had one pair of shoes. I go to school with no shoes,” said Santos. “My holidays, I grew up in the holidays, I don’t have nothing. Now I have it, sweetheart, nothing will stop me.”

Besides the holidays, Santos, who is also known as the ‘Muffin Momma,’ goes above and beyond for people who find themselves hungry.

On more occasions than she cant count, she’s cut people a break or offered them free food.

“I don’t have much but the little bit I have, I’ll share with somebody who needs it,” she said. “When I came in this country God gave me so much. Why be selfish? Why I keep just for me? No, I give to somebody who needs it.”

Santos said she is able to give back thanks to her amazing, loyal customers whom she appreciates more than words can express.

Their support allows her to help others.

“More I give, the more god will give it to me,” she said.