People Love Food at US Falafel Shop that Helps Refugees

 

Customers at a Washington DC falafel shop are praising the tasty food as well as the owner’s efforts to help refugees².

Falafel Inc. is located in the Georgetown area, one of the city’s most expensive places to eat and live. Many people cannot believe they can buy a falafel sandwich at the shop for $3.00.

The shop opened just two months ago. It stays very busy, especially around midday when workers in the area are buying lunch.

But the shop is different from most others. The owner, Ahmad Ashkar, gives some of the money he earns to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP). For every $10 Falafel Inc. makes, he donates about 50 cents to the U.N. agency. This is enough to feed one refugee¹ for a day.

Ashkar told VOA that while there are many ways to help refugees, he found a way that works well with his business.

“We chose falafel for two reasons. One, because falafel stands are prevalent³ around refugee camps around the world, it's actually the main food in most refugee camps. Because it's so cheap, and it's affordable⁴, and it's highly nutritious⁵. Second is my personal love and passion for falafel.”

The idea to help refugees by selling falafels is welcomed by customers like Nick Wright.

“I think what they are doing with refugees is a very good cause and I support it.”

Lunch buyer Roland Spier agrees.

“The food is delicious and hearing about the owner’s story before we went in was really inspiring. And I think it makes the food all that more enjoyable.”

Ashkar grew up on the falafels cooked by his Palestinian mother. And he makes them exactly the same way for his shop. Since the shop only makes falafels and small sides, it keeps costs low.

Donating 50 cents might not sound like a lot, but the money adds up. The shop has already donated enough money to feed almost 10,000 refugees.

Ashkar said he is looking into opening up more falafel shops around the world. He has a goal of at least 100 franchises⁷, which would allow him to feed about 1 million refugees a year.

But he wants to do more than just feed refugees. He also wants to employ them in shops and eventually give them a chance to be more than a worker.

“We're looking at a place where the refugee can actually become, after 24 months of employment, an actual owner of the stores themselves.”

Ashkar said every day the number of worldwide refugees seems to grow. So he thinks expanding his business is one way to help solve a problem that he sees getting worse before it gets better.

I’m Bryan Lynn.

Words in This Story

customer – n. person who buys goods or services from a business

sandwich – n. two or more pieces of bread with a filling in the middle

prevalent – adj. occurring in large amounts

cheap – adj. low cost

passion – n. strong belief in or commitment to something

delicious – adj. very tasty

inspiring – adj. causing someone to want to do something

franchise⁶ – n. the right to sell a company’s goods or services in a particular area

1 refugee   

n.难民，流亡者

参考例句：

• The refugee was condemned to a life of wandering.这个难民注定要过流浪的生活。
• The refugee is suffering for want of food and medical supplies.难民苦于缺少食物和医药用品。

2 refugees   

n.避难者，难民( refugee的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The UN has begun making airdrops of food to refugees. 联合国已开始向难民空投食物。
• They claimed they were political refugees and not economic migrants. 他们宣称自己是政治难民，不是经济移民。

3 prevalent   

adj.流行的，普遍的

参考例句：

• The habit of travelling by aeroplane is becoming more prevalent.乘飞机旅行的习惯变得越来越盛行了。
• Colds are prevalent in the winter.伤风在冬季很普遍。

4 affordable   

adj.支付得起的，不太昂贵的

参考例句：

• The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
• There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。

5 nutritious   

adj.有营养的，营养价值高的

参考例句：

• Fresh vegetables are very nutritious.新鲜蔬菜富于营养。
• Hummingbirds have discovered that nectar and pollen are very nutritious.蜂鸟发现花蜜和花粉是很有营养的。

6 franchise   

n.特许，特权，专营权，特许权

参考例句：

• Catering in the schools is run on a franchise basis.学校餐饮服务以特许权经营。
• The United States granted the franchise to women in 1920.美国于1920年给妇女以参政权。

7 franchises   

n.（尤指选举议员的）选举权( franchise的名词复数 )；参政权；获特许权的商业机构（或服务）；（公司授予的）特许经销权v.给…以特许权，出售特许权( franchise的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• TV franchises will be auctioned to the highest bidder. 电视特许经营权将拍卖给出价最高的投标人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Ford dealerships operated as independent franchises. 福特汽车公司的代销商都是独立的联营商。 来自辞典例句