Two Charlottetown restaurant owners who are thankful for the success of their business are giving back to the community, one meal at a time.
Paul Sohi and Sam Semwal opened Taste of India on Kent Street last May. As the restaurant owners make their way to work each morning, they often pass people along the way who are looking for assistance.
“It does break our hearts,” Sohi said. “They don’t even have a place to stay, they don’t have any money.”
Wanting to help, Sohi and Semwal looked into what resources were available for those in need.
Through their research, they learned about Grandmother’s House, the only women’s homeless shelter in Charlottetown that had to close in 2012 due to lack of funding.
“That shouldn't have happened,” Sohi said, adding he then learned about Anderson House, a provincial emergency shelter for women and children who are in need of safety because of violence in their lives.
The restauranteurs decided that one Sunday each month they will bring enough individually wrapped plates of Indian fare for everyone staying at Anderson House to enjoy a nice meal. Their first meal was earlier this month.
“Ever since we started a business, we wanted to support this Island,” Sohi said, adding the Island has been good to them. “We want to return the favour.”
“Ever since we started a business, we wanted to support this Island. We want to return the favour.”
-Paul Sohi
Danya O’Malley, executive director of P.E.I. Family Violence Prevention Services - the organization that runs Anderson House - is pleased the restaurant has stepped up to offer assistance.
“It a delightful gesture that will make everyone feel special. When people are struggling to get by, either financially or emotionally, going to a restaurant to eat may not happen often. Our clients would enjoy a restaurant meal for the same reasons we all do - a night off of cooking, a tasty treat,” she said in an email to The Guardian.
“This donation will be greatly appreciated.”
Sohi said it’s not only about offering food.
“If people know that someone is there looking out for them and showing them that they are cared for, then maybe that will give them the motivation they need to get their live back on track,” he said, adding it’s about giving people hope.
“That’s the best thing that anyone can do for anyone. We want to tell them that we do care for them, for everyone, even as they go through a rough (time) in their life.”
Sohi said he’d like to see other restaurants jump on board and help out as well.
“We want to continue to do this, indefinitely. We never want to stop this.”
