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There Is Such A Thing As A ‘Free Lunch’ At This Washington D.C. Restaurant

By Josh Helmuth

Photo: Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post (Getty Images)

Food has power. It doesn’t just have the ability to fill our stomachs. It has the ability to fill our souls as well. And there may not be a better current example of that beautiful concept than the Sakina Halal Grill, a high-end restaurant in Washington D.C. It’s a Pakistani establishment, owned by an immigrant, just blocks from the White House.

But instead of charging outrageous prices for pretentious food served to upper-class patrons, the restaurant chooses to serve quality food to people from all walks of life, even if those people walk into the restaurant without a dime.

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“If someone says, ‘I need a free meal,’ I say ‘OK,'” said Kazi Mannan, the restaurant’s owner.

That’s right. Mannan feeds the poor and homeless for free every day. In fact, one homeless man has been coming to Sakina Halal twice a day for the last four years.

Here is footage of Mannan walking through area parks, telling people about the meals that he gives away for free.

Word about the free meals has spread. Last year, according to ABC7, the restaurant gave away 16,000 free meals.

So how does Mannan stay in business? Thankfully, Mannan makes enough money from his paying customers to cover the costs of the free meals given to the homeless.

Now that word has spread across the globe about his restaurant, Sakina Halal Grill is always packed full of customers.

Keep up the fantastic work, Mannan. Keep feeding people. Keep feeding souls. And hopefully, this idea will spread to other cities.

“When you uplift another human being, it’s a beautiful thing,” said Mannan.

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Josh Helmuth is a sports guy in St. Louis who contributes to Mandatory.

Josh Helmuth
Josh Helmuth

Josh is originally from the small berg of Arthur, Ill, proudly the Amish capital of the state. It also has one hell of a pumpkin patch.

Josh has enjoyed dipping his toes into a variety of careers since graduating from the University of Alabama, the most rewarding thus far having served as a youth director in southern California for four years, and his broadcasting career which has garnered two Emmy awards and three Edward R. Murrow Awards.  

Josh enjoys loud rock music, Tom Hanks movies, dogs that like to cuddle and long runs. He is also always in search for America's greatest cheeseburger. Follow him here if you would like to be friends!

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