SYDNEY, N.S. — A local restaurant has handed out thousands of free meals for hungry people affected by post-tropical storm Fiona.
Carol Yang, who operates Jay’s Chicken and Pizza in Sydney and Glace Bay, said with many people still without power and running low on food, she decided to help the best way she knows how – by serving up boxes of chicken and fries.
“Some of my neighbours, they don’t have food, they don’t have hot water and no power, so we have propane. I cook something for them and they mention to me they have some friends, they some family members who have no warm food to eat, so I think if I can cook for my neighbour, why can’t I cook for the community?” said Yang, who moved to Cape Breton from Shanghai, China, about 10 years ago.
On Monday, Yang and her staff prepared about 500 boxed meals – each with enough food to feed two people – at the Glace Bay location. On Tuesday, they gave out another 500 in Sydney.
Basil Benoy, Athira Baby and Anne Maria Baby were among the people lined up outside Jay’s Chicken and Pizza in Sydney on Tuesday. The three Cape Breton University students from Kerala, India, were grateful for a hot meal after weathering post-tropical storm Fiona.
“Actually, most of the people who are students, they have a shortage of food, they are really struggling to get food. Jay’s are giving them food so they are much appreciated for that,” said Benoy, who lives on Amelia Street in Sydney’s north end.
Athira Baby said it was a harrowing experience as she and roommate Anne Maria Baby (no relation) hunkered down in their Dorchester Street apartment as winds whipped the building and trees toppled over.
“We were really frightened but thankfully not much affected us but there is power outage and trees falling down,” she said, adding that she’s grateful for the generosity of Jay’s.
“It’s really an appreciated thing because for so many international students there is no electricity and there is a shortage of food, so it really means a lot to us. They are offering free food so they are really doing a great job.”
Anne Maria Baby echoed that sentiment.
“It feels very great to have something warm, especially during this rainy and cold season. We are really struggling and to have a free meal at this time, it’s very good for us,” she said.
“We were literally scared in the room. It was too windy and I got up from my sleep and look out the window, and we also see the fire stations patrolling through all the centres. We are not knowing what’s happening with the house and they are showing they are taking care of us just by going through the street.
"We also heard that some of our friends that their house was completely damaged, and they were taken out and evacuated. In our home country, we have some months of June and July that would be the heavy rainfall and maybe some flooding in certain areas but here a hurricane comes with heavy wind. We are not certain of what our houses will look like. In India, we might get our houses filled with water but it’s still escapable.”
Jordan Oakes drove from Glace Bay to stand in line outside Jay’s Chicken and Pizza in Sydney on Tuesday. “Somebody down the road told me they were giving food out and I’m hungry,” he said. “It’s nice they’re doing it for the public – it’s very nice. It means a lot.”
Sherri McCarthy of Sydney said she’s been eating a steady diet of peanut butter and jam sandwiches since post-tropical storm Fiona left her without power.
“They’re helping people in hard times,” she said.
Meanwhile, Yang said she hopes her actions will inspire other businesses to help out.
“I hope people see we can do this and maybe others can do it, too.”
