About UsSince 2000, I have been feeding the homeless at the Austin Street Shelter in Dallas, Texas on behalf of my church. One evening each month, I would leave my job and travel to downtown Dallas with a team of church volunteers to create mouth-watering meals that include Greek style chicken, green beans, rice and fresh baked cakes. The chicken and vegetables were flavored with Greek Seasonings that I had created myself. Soon our monthly meals became the talk of the shelter, with regular clients eagerly anticipating our next visit.In 2002, I was laid off from my full-time job but found the inspiration for a new dream in the very people that I served at the shelter – people struggling to keep their own lives together. Each time I showed up to feed the homeless, they encouraged me to make my Greek seasonings and recipes available to others. Soon, an idea was born and with that I would launch OPA! Seasonings to sell these Greek Seasonings online. Moreover, we also donate a portion of the proceeds from every bottle sold back to the Shelter. Not professionally trained, I describe myself as a “simple man’s cook” having learned how to cook from my grandfather’s restaurants in Salina, Kansas many years ago. That is the essence of our seasonings, to provide people an easy way to add wonderful flavoring to every meal without having to figure out what spices they needed to combine. Today, OPA! Seasonings has launched four seasoning blends – Chicken & Seafood, Meat, Vegetable and Salad. We are aggressively pursuing distribution within key markets.. It is my belief that OPA!’s success must also help provide the opportunity for success for those in need. The Austin Street Shelter is an outstanding example of what can be done in helping provide hope to the hopeless through a nurturing environment. It is important to OPA! Seasonings that we continue to support their efforts and hopefully make a difference in someone’s life, just like the inspiration they provided me. Enjoy cooking with OPA! – great taste that helps a great cause! Dean Xeros, Founder OPA! Seasonings |