Soon-to-open sandwich shop Nicky’s Undefeated and NETWorks Cooperative Ministry are partnering to celebrate the restaurant’s arrival in Tucker with a fundraiser for the non-profit, now in its 20th year.
Nicky’s, a family-friendly, sandwich-centered restaurant from Philadelphia and South Jersey natives Michael Lo and Walt Gebelein, will have a lunch preview Aug. 6 on Main Street and designated NETWorks Ministry as its charity of choice to highlight
Nicky’s Undefeated will feature sandwiches popular throughout the Philadelphia and New York metropolitan regions, including Philly cheesesteaks, Italian-style hoagies, and breaded chicken cutlet sandwiches.
Lo and Gebelein sourced deli meat, cheese, chips, and ice cream for Nicky’s from companies around the Northeast. They tapped Liscio’s Bakery in South Jersey to supply the dough for the sandwich bread to bake at the Tucker shop.
Related Link: Nicky’s Undefeated bringing Philly cheesesteaks, Jersey-style pizza, and water ice to Tucker
Attendees who made reservations for the Aug. 6 preview can learn more about NETWorks and contribute financially to it.
Executive Director David Fisher said NETWorks is grateful for the opportunity to shine a light on the organization as well as welcome a new addition to the Tucker food scene.
“We will have a table at the restaurant and people will be able to scan a QR code to donate,” he said. “Thanks to the publicity from (Tucker resident) Doug Reynics, we have already raised several hundred dollars.”
NETWorks, a cooperative of 21 churches in the Northlake, Embry Hills, and Tucker area, helps food-insecure individuals with a two-pronged approach. They offer temporary emergency food and support for people in need, including unhoused individuals, and ongoing help for those needing long-term solutions.
The organization has set up an alliance wherein qualified individuals can “shop” in a grocery store-like setting on a regular basis. Each person is allowed about 75 pounds of food and staples per month, which should include a variety of available groceries.
“Right now, we are serving about 80 to 100 people every day that we are open,” Fisher said. “We try to have complete meal solutions on hand, meaning we include items such flour, sugar and cooking oil.”
During the pandemic, NETWorks faced further challenges after shifting its food distribution operation for almost three years to a parking lot owned by First Baptist Church of Tucker.
“We never missed a day of service, and we are very proud of that,” he said.
Fisher said the organization has seen a rapidly increasing demand for food every year and has managed to meet their clients’ needs, thanks to unwavering support from area merchants like Sprouts, Kamayan ATL, Village Burger, Aldi, Dollar General, and Kroger. In addition, the Atlanta Community Food Bank supplies much of the food NETWorks distributes.
The organization lists its greatest needs, in addition to financial support, as personal care items, canned tuna and chicken and peanut butter.
Fisher said he believes the success of NETWorks lies in its mission to “love your neighbor as yourself.”
“We try to live that every day,” he said. “We take it very seriously.”
Nicky’s Undefeated, 2316 Main Street, Tucker.
