By Alesha Capone
Werribee restaurant Indo Eats is helping international students and others who are doing it tough during the pandemic.
In early August, Indo Eats Werribee started offering free meals to international students and other disadvantaged people, such as those who have lost their jobs but have no access to government welfare support.
The free meals are available every Wednesday, from 5pm until closing time.
Indo Eats co-owner Aladin Mohamed, who runs the business with his wife, said they decided to start the Wednesday sessions after seeing an increasing number of international students hand their resume in at the restaurant in the hope of finding work.
Aladin said that he, his wife and in-laws worked in the restaurant but were they unable to hire new workers due to the pandemic.
However, Aladin said he and his family wanted to help the international students.
“It’s just time to give back to the community,” he said.
Aladin said some international students, who live as far away as Footscray and the Melbourne CBD, were requesting the free meals be delivered to them.
Aladin said he and his wife opened Indo Eats in January, achieving a dream of five years in the making, but that the pandemic had made operating a business tough.
“It’s a bad time to open, but we just stay positive and keep going,” he said.
Aladin said that some regular customers were supportive of Indo Eats’ efforts to help international students.
“Some of our customers donate to us and say, ‘well done, you’re doing a good job’,” he said.
IndoEats Werribee is located at 126 Watton Street, Werribee. Details: www.facebook.com/indoests.
