News Beat
Middle Feast, York, provides free Christmas Day meals
People were queuing from 10am outside Middle Feast in Lendal on Thursday (December 25) as staff prepared takeaway meals for anyone who came by.
The Lebanese restaurant opened early to serve those outside and is due to stay open until 3pm.
“At 10am people were queuing – there were lots of people coming in,” said owner Wael Garas.
It was the third year Middle Feast had opened its doors on Christmas Day to provide homeless people and those away from their families with a free meal.
Some of the people who called in insisted on paying, Wael said, so it was decided that all money taken would be donated to the I am Reusable food bank, run by John McGall in the Leeman Road area.
“Everybody has come and said thanks – thank you to everyone for coming already,” said Wael, speaking to The Press shortly after midday. “There has been lots of ambulance workers, people from the hospital and homeless people.
“People have come in and given money which will go to John.”
On the menu was Middle Feast’s popular chicken and lamb doner shawarmas as well as a vegan option.
By 12pm, Wael said the restaurant had already used 45kg of chicken.
Wael, who also owns Enoteca by L’UVA in Bridge Street and the Marrakesh and Oasis Café in Low Ousegate, previously said he is “not rich” but feels it is important to help other people with his businesses.
“I like to help people,” he said, adding: “When I worked in hospitality before and saw [people sleeping rough], I said to myself that one day I would have a business of my own and help them.”
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He said seeing the people that had turned out on Christmas Day brought him joy. “When I see everyone, I feel happy.”
“People are buying other things for people,” he added, referencing the donations that had been made to the food bank. “I’m not about, take, take, take. You also have to give.
“I want to give lots of thanks for today – to everyone who came, I want to say thank you. And thank you to my staff.”
Wael added that he plans to carry out the same service next Christmas. “In the future, we want to continue,” he said, adding that it was the “best way” to spend Christmas.
