The owner of a restaurant in Peterborough, Ontario, says he will continue to provide meals for less fortunate people. free meals as he did once again on Easter Sunday.
Ilir Sino and his staff at the Original Spaghetti House Pizzeria on George Street served hundreds of meals to people in need over a four-hour period. Original Spaghetti House Pizzeria on George Street served hundreds of meals, complete with dessert, to individuals in need.
Sino said he will keep feeding people in need, even if the restaurant goes out of business.
The Spaghetti House has been giving out free meals for the past two years on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.
Sino's wife suggested canceling their trip to Montreal and opening the restaurant to people in need after seeing individuals outside an emergency homeless shelter in the city.
Sino understands the challenges of living with less, having experienced a time when he was sleeping in his van. He currently owns the restaurant and Sino's Fine Foods, offering homemade cuisine in soups, sauces, salads, and appetizers.
Sino went through tough times, including divorce and a bad investment, which left him in a difficult situation.
Joshua and Michelle, who have experience with poverty and homelessness, help pick up meals and serve them to those who may not know about Sino's generosity.
Michelle has experienced living outside and understands the struggle of not having enough to eat.
She believes that a meal and a full stomach can make it easier to deal with other challenges.
Joshua and Michelle help individuals who cannot physically go to the restaurant because they don't have housing and fear leaving their belongings behind.
They offer hot meals to people in need, acknowledging that it is a basic human need.
The staff at Sino's restaurant also understand the importance of giving back to the community, including Monu Sharma, an international student who has experienced going without food.
Sharma understands the feeling of not having money or enough to eat, as he has experienced it as an international student.
Sino's approach to giving back may not be popular with some customers, as the dining room business has declined.
The decline in dining room business is attributed to some people feeling uncomfortable about sharing the space with homeless individuals.
However, Sino remains committed to his mission, even as he sees new faces at the restaurant during the meal giveaways.
He said his main worry is making sure people are fed and giving them things they lack. He is not concerned about the cost.
The next time he gives away meals will be on Thanksgiving.
To help Sino's efforts, customers can also contribute to the Spaghetti House's meal voucher program, which assists in providing food to those in need all year long.
