Kazi Mannan, a Pakistani immigrant in Washington D.C, U.S.A always dreamt of owning a restaurant where he could serve meals made with love. This one reminds us of the quote from the Lebanese-American poet Khalil Gibran, “Bread baked without love is a bitter bread that feeds but half a man’s hunger.”
Kazi materialised his mother’s dream of owning a restaurant that serves free food to the have-nots by starting Sakina Halal Grill, an Indian-Pakistani-Nepalese diner. In here, he served 16,000 free meals last year. Kazi now aims to give away 22,000 meals by next year.
Kazi comes from an impoverished background. He grew up in a small village in Pakistan that had no electricity or running water. It took him 22 years to translate his dream into reality after arriving in the U.S with just $3 in his pocket. He is now the proud owner of Sakina Halal Grill, a diner named after his deceased mother and which feeds the poor for free. Kazi’s mother exposed him to the joy that food brings and grew in him an infinite love for food in the process!
Kazi’s business flourished swiftly because of the delicious food, affordable prices, and friendly staff. You can dig into some lip-smacking Vindi Masala, Veggie Biryani or Tandoori Roti in this restaurant. The menu will definitely keep you coming back for more.
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However, what really made Kazi a social media sensation is his unflinching dedication to D.C’s homeless and poor. His honest means to give back to the community really tugs at the heartstrings. It was his mother who taught him to extend a hand of help to those who have less. Doesn’t matter if you have little to spare, you should still help others because there are people who don’t have even that, his mother always taught him.
In Kazi’s restaurant, anybody who hasn’t money to spare for food can walk in and request a sit-down or take-out meal for free, no questions asked. What really struck our emotional chord is the fact that Kazi doesn’t differentiate between the paying customers and the poor. The poor are offered to sit and eat in the same level as the paying customers in his restaurants. Kazi believes that a person’s worth is not measured through his fortune in the bank account or wallet. He further believes that food should be accessible to all because it brings sheer joy.
RT _SJPeace_: RT _SJPeace_: This Pakistani Muslim man opened a restaurant to feed the homeless free in Washington, D.C.
Kazi Mannan is his name. He is a HERO.
RETWEET THIS 😭❤️ pic.twitter.com/cYEzZIXLoK
— Sharon Kyle (@SharonKyle00) 29 November 2018
Kazi’s restaurant is just three blocks from the White House. Can you believe that Kazi goes out in person to invite as many homeless as he can to enjoy a free meal in his restaurant! Also, he lends an ear to the poor to know about their hardships. He treats them like beloved friends and remembers their names too! Isn’t that amazing? Further, on days when only a few come to eat in his place, Kazi and his staff go out searching for them with free food.
It is these kinds of people that strengthen our faith in humanity!
