Local Hero of the Month: Restaurant owner invites DC's homeless to dine for free
Local Hero of the Month: Restaurant owner invites DC's homeless to dine for free
1 day ago
Note from the editor: For the month of June, MSN is honoring Kazi Mannan, a Washington, D.C. restaurant owner who feeds the homeless for free. As our Local Hero of the Month, we are holding a fundraiser for the charity of his choice. Mannan has asked that we direct donations to Akhuwat USA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides interest-free micro loans to lift people out of poverty and build thriving futures. Click here to make a small contribution that can make an enormous impact.
Kazi Mannan remembers what it feels like to be hungry. Growing up in Pakistan as one of 12 children, he and his siblings often struggled to fill their bellies.
When he immigrated to the United States in 1992, he was surprised to see that many people in the most powerful country on Earth also didn’t have enough to eat. “I see this struggle of people looking for food through trash cans and it just took me to my own childhood memory of wishing I had a good meal,” he said.
He dreamed of opening a restaurant, and he vowed that if he did, he would try to help. Mannan is now the proud owner of Sakina Halal Grill, an elegant restaurant serving Pakistani and Indian favorites just blocks from the White House. One day after opening in 2013, he walked to a nearby park occupied by homeless people. He says he invited them to come have a free meal, and he was met with suspicious skepticism. Nevertheless, he convinced a few to join him, and they left happily surprised and well-fed.
He now estimates that he provides 16,000 free meals a year. He sees that number as a goal, not a liability, and he always meets it. He makes enough money from paying customers to support the meals he gives away. “Most restaurants just think about their profits, and they think if you let homeless people come in, it will ruin your business,” Mannan said. “I wanted to prove them wrong.”
More:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/causes/local-hero-of-the-month-restaurant-owner-invites-dcs-homeless-to-dine-for-free/ar-AADzCwn?li=BBnb7Kz
Kazi Mannan
Hope for the Homeless
Photos of Kazi as a young man, etc.
https://wjla.com/news/local/gallery/web-exclusive-incredible-story-of-dc-restaurant-owner-who-feeds-homeless-for-free#photo-1
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