Dec. 20, 2016 By Hannah Wulkan
A popular Woodside restaurant is asking for the community’s help to keep its doors open.
La Adelita, located at 52-22 Roosevelt Avenue, launched a GoFundMe campaign on Saturday to raise money to pay off back taxes.
Owner Maria Iglesias wrote on the page that after a recent audit she was informed that she owes $72,000 in back taxes, blaming her predicament on the accountant she used for the last 13 years.
She wrote that she took out a loan for $30,000 to help pay the taxes owed, but said that the daily expenses of the business on top of the money she owes to the Finance Department are too much for her to handle on her own, leading to her plea for help from the community.
“I have striven to create a restaurant filled with heart, friendly ambiance, while providing authentic Mexican culture and tradition. Each ingredient is authentic and carry a legacy of a secret sauce that my grandmother has passed down to me in which I would love to pass it down to my daughter,” Iglesias wrote.
The campaign launched Saturday with a goal of $25,000, though so far it has only raised $140 with donations from 5 people.
“All I ask is that if my community could look into their heart and help me through this very challenging time. It is a setback for I never would have imagined that this would have happened as it come from a place of love,” Iglesias wrote.
She added that if she is successful in remaining open, she would offer a 25 percent discount to all customers who supported her.
To learn more or donate, visit https://www.gofundme.com/savelaadelita.
