Generous baker promises to continue offering free food to customers in need
A bakery in Abu Dhabi gives free bread and pastries to residents struggling to make ends meet.
Al Yousef Bakery and Sweets, a small shop off Hamdan Street, is renowned among people who live in the neighbourhood for helping to feed low-income families.
A small sign on the door of the bakery shows the words “free bread if you cannot pay” in Arabic and English.
The initiative was inspired by a customer who offered to pay another Dh200 to cover the bills of people who were struggling financially.
That payment was used up long ago but the owners continued the tradition of helping others.
“There is nothing better than seeing a person leave the shop smiling and saying a small prayer for you,” said shop manager Saeed Mardi, 57.
He was raised in the UAE after his father emigrated from Palestine in the 1960s. He opened another small bakery in Abu Dhabi that has since closed.
Mr Mardi and his wife opened their bakery in 2003. He said they lived a blessed life and wanted to pass goodwill on to others.
“Everything we have comes from the generosity of this country and its rulers,” said Mr Mardi, a father of six.
“I lived my whole life here and my education was free and I was even sent abroad to study in the US on a government scholarship.
“This is the least I could do for a country that has been so generous to me and my family for decades.”
He said he had been handing out more free bread since the coronavirus pandemic began because more people were struggling to cover costs.
“Around six or seven people come to the shop each day without the means to pay,” Mr Mardi said.
“If a person comes wanting a cheese pastry and juice and a slice of cake, for example, and can’t afford any of it or can’t afford the juice, then we don’t ask them for money.” He said his business had not suffered financially because of the initiative.
He trusted that people would not take advantage of the policy, he said.
“I have a philosophy that comes from an Islamic belief that your money will never be affected because of charity,” said Mr Mardi.
The bakery does not accept donations but Mr Mardi said he would continue to offer free food to people who could not afford it.
“When you’ve seen and received so much good and kindness from the people and rulers of a country, this is the least you would do,” he said.
When you’ve received so much good and kindness from the people and rulers of a country, this is the least you would do
SAEED YOUSEF MARDI
Al Yousef Bakery and Sweets