Big Bite Pita co-owner Emad Elawwad was working one day at his Churchill Square restaurant when a man came in with some change.
“He not have enough money, and I say, ‘Give him the food – whatever he wanted – pita, fries and drink.’
“And to go on, I decide to put this sign here, and I say if anyone who no have money and is hungry, just to come."
The sign on the door indicates people who are homeless can come in for a free meal every day from 3 to 4 p.m.
“Small things help a lot,” said Big Bite Pita manager, Alaa Nattouf.
Elawwad runs the restaurant with co-owner Sameh Ibrahim, who is an engineer currently working in Dubai.
Elawwad said he and Ibrahim discussed what happened with the man who didn’t have enough money for the meal, and they decided that anyone who enters their restaurant who is homeless or doesn’t have enough money should still be able to eat.
“This is not much for us here for give him the meal,” said Elawwad.
Nattouf said the sign went up about two weeks ago.
“First day I had two people, second day increasing. Sometimes two or three, sometimes five, sometimes six,” she said.
Elawwad has been through difficult times himself.
Originally from Egypt, he said he’s been in Canada for 10 years and still has refugee status. He said when he left Egypt, his son was only nine months old — he hasn’t seen his wife or son since.
He’s trying to get permanent resident status so he can bring them to Canada.
"He’s all the time working hard to get them here and to see them,” said Nattouf.
"He’s sometimes very depressed about it.”
Elawwad said he hopes to one day have his family in Newfoundland with him, especially so his son can go to school here.
“At the school, everything is safe here, and quiet and is not problem, and people are nice,” he said.
Before meeting Ibrahim and opening the restaurant, Elawwad worked three jobs. Now he can focus on the restaurant.
He proudly describes the menu. He said everything is fresh, homemade, and he uses special spices to marinate the meats.
It wasn’t an easy process opening the restaurant. He said when he first tried to open in 2017 it was damaged in a storm, but it was up and running again on April 14, 2018.
Nattouf said Elawwad has a lot of determination despite his difficulties.
“It is my first business here in Canada,” he said.
“I like it here and the people here are very nice.”
Elawwad said being able to help others by providing a free meal makes him feel happy.
“When I see someone is happy, I’m really happy to help anyone.”
