Using a food truck, Harez Parwani founded Gift a Meal, one of the first charity food providers for refugees at the Poland - Ukraine border. Approved as a Polish non-profit organisation after the start of the conflict in Ukraine, the programme fed 8,000 refugees per day and is now providing charitable giving in Krakow in Poland. In March of 2024, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints collaborated with Gift a Meal to provide nutrient rich soup to new refugees at the collection points and meal vouchers for those currently in shelters.
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Containers of soup ready for delivery.Parwani realized that some shelters only provided a single meal per day, making refugees reliant on external sources for additional food. He opened the Zlote Serce (Golden Heart) restaurant in March 2022 offering meal vouchers that could be redeemed at his restaurant for those who needed a meal for themselves or their families. He now employs female Ukrainian refugees who benefit by providing better support for their families and learning how a restaurant operates. Viktoria Klymovets, one of the women employed at the restaurant, shared that "taking care of my children is my top priority, I work hard to provide for them." Viktoria’s co-worker, Natalia Boriak expressed, "this work allows me to make a difference in the world. I want to help my people."
At the completion of the project in June of 2024 a total of 600 servings of soup and 1,200 meal vouchers were provided. The vouchers offered a rare opportunity to enjoy a meal and a beverage at the restaurant with family and fellow refugees outside the shelter in a nice social environment. This helped restore a little normalcy and dignity to their lives.
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Harez Parwani, owner of Zlote Serce, in front of a mural in the restaurant. © 2024 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Born in Afghanistan, Parwani grew up in the Netherlands and then moved to Poland. When asked about his thoughts he said, “I am grateful for the opportunity to lend a hand. I come from a family of immigrants and I realize that I wouldn't be where I am today without the help we received.”