SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News)– Catholic Charities Homeless Shelter has been receiving food from a downtown restaurant called Luna Food Lover at the end of the week since the second week of September according to the owner Shadi Tabala. Luna Food Lover donates whatever leftover food they have to this shelter.
Catholic Charities Homeless Shelter is a religious social organization that takes in anyone who is homeless.
Tabala said he is used to seeing homeless people and wants to do what he can to help.
“I’m from Egypt so from walking the streets and seeing homeless people in the streets stuff like that, they always need help,” Tabala said. “They always need someone to give them food and help them.”
Sometimes Tabala drops off the food himself. Tabala said that he is trying his best.
“Last week I dropped some stuff there,” Tabala said. “Some salads and I believe it was some seafood and rice. So I’m trying, it’s not like my main thing but if something is left over I’ll take it there.”
After reaching out to Catholic Charities multiple times for an interview, they did not get back to me, but I got confirmation from someone who works at the shelter that they receive food from Luna Food Lover.
Employee Fatima Zahir has been working at Luna Food Lover since it opened on Sept. 27. She said she likes working somewhere that makes her feel secure.
“It feels so good helping each other,” Zahir said. “It feels like secure to work with someone who cares about others.”
Zahir also said that she loves the atmosphere at her job.
“Having the costumers as our friend and family,” Zahir said. “Because even if we know each other for a short time it is a comfy environment and the community is very friendly.”
The labor shortage did not skip Tabala’s business and as a result, he has to prepare food the day before to have it for the next business day. This is also why he went from donating to the shelter three times a week to once a week. According to Tabala, he will continue to donate his leftover to the shelter for as long as he can.
