What higher to have a good time the vacations than to point out gratitude and to present the present of giving?
Ema Haq, proprietor of Bailey’s Seafood & Grill has been displaying his appreciation to the neighborhood for the final three many years, by opening his restaurant doorways, to all.
This yr, Haq hosted his thirtieth, annual Thanksgiving celebration, offering free, scorching meals and desserts, all totally free.
Haq companions with volunteers from the neighborhood to supply a conventional Thanksgiving feast. Prospects are inspired to dine inside, picked-up or delivered.
This yr, KATC reached out to a number of attendees and plenty of of Haq’s clients mentioned they’re ceaselessly grateful for his good deeds.
“We’ve so many individuals in our neighborhood, our brothers and sisters that aren’t as lucky as we’re,” Haq mentioned. “With out [this free Thanksgiving celebration], they in all probability wouldn’t have a scorching meal, loads of them. It could possibly be one meal in Port Barre or two meals in Kaplan, simply making a distinction.”
Haq, a local of Bangladesh mentioned he started immersing himself into the American vacation when he got here to Acadiana to review mechanical engineering, forty years in the past.
“I did not know something about Thanksgiving,” Haq mentioned. “So many individuals are so type and beneficiant to me, I’m so grateful.”
Now, Haq mentioned he pays his blessings ahead, by giving again to those that assist him and by sharing with those that could also be with out.
Suzanne Ferrara joined Haq this yr by volunteering her time and bringing her son to take part too.
“It actually has been transformative for me,” Ferrera mentioned. “I’ve at all times loved my household and lots of people, however coming right here to see what Ema and Bailey’s has been doing for years in my yard, I imply it actually touched me.”
Immediately, Ferrera mentioned she witnessed first-hand what it is prefer to see tons of of individuals so appreciative of such a small, token of appreciation.
Eleven-year-old Jackson Quinlan mentioned he began volunteering at Bailey’s Seafood & Grill at the moment, at eight within the morning.
Quinlan mentioned his job was to assist bag meals for to-go orders.
“[The chance to] simply to present again to others that may’t afford issues that perhaps you possibly can and to be glad about the issues you’ve got and never take it as a right,” Quinlan mentioned made him proud to lend a serving to hand.
This yr, Haq and his volunteers helped present greater than 15-hundred meals to folks throughout Acadiana.
Some meals deliveries went so far as Rain and Kaplan, LA and the plan is to maintain the custom going.
