Veterans in the Tri-Cities may not be able to have a beer at the legion on Wednesday, but they will be able to get a free lunch.
Jamila’s Kitchen in Coquitlam is offering the free meal to veterans, active and retired police officers, firefighters and even legion members, who won’t be able to attend their facility as they’ve been closed to comply with public health orders.
The offer runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Remembrance Day, and no ID is required.
“We feel humble to show our thanks and appreciations to those who tirelessly serve our community,” said Malik Malikzada, who operates the restaurant with his wife for whom the business is named. “Our community is very honest.”
Recognizing the sacrifices brought by conflict hits close to home for the restaurateurs, who both fled civil war in their native Afghanistan and spent time as refugees in Pakistan before coming to Canada.
That hardship has been the couple’s impetus for several initiatives to support the community, including providing free meals to anyone who can’t afford to pay, cooking for frontline workers in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic and even rewarding valedictorians from local high schools with a meal and $50 when their graduation ceremonies were cancelled because of the public health crisis.
