For those who may be having a difficult holiday season in Cochrane, Mehtab East Indian Cuisine extends an invitation to those in the community who could use a helping hand by offering a free meal on Dec. 24.
Jag Thind, Cochrane local and owner of Mehtab, said giving back to the community through a free meal on Christmas Eve and year-round relates back to his cultural roots.
“This a tradition culture-wise,” Thind said. “We are Sikh, there are free meals in our gurdwaras, our Sikh temples.”
Although there are no gurdwaras in Cochrane, he said the four that are in Calgary are open to anyone who needs a meal this holiday season.
“Anybody of any faith can go down and get a free meal,” Thind said. “My family and I used to go every Sunday, to the gurdwara, and prepare meals for everybody.”
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Cochrane in 2020, Thind decided to do his part for the community by offering free meals for those who needed them.
“We couldn’t go to the gurdwaras, we couldn’t do anything, and that was the least we do for anybody,” Thind said.
Although Thind does what he can, he said the hardest part for many in need is to ask for a helping hand.
“We are not going to ask any questions,” he said. “If you need a meal, come in and we are going to provide a meal for you.”
For Thind, he believes in giving back to the Cochrane community whenever he can. Mehtab was his first business venture in Cochrane, and he said the love from the community helped bring them to where they are today.
“I’m here with my family and we always say – ‘This is the best decision we’ve ever made, to work and live in Cochrane’,” Thind said. “I’ve always loved the community and we’ve got great responses from it.
“It’s important to give back the community that gives that much love.”
For Thind, it is always a rewarding and indescribable experience whenever he can help those in need.
“When you see people smiling after getting their meal, that is priceless, my friend,” Thind remarked.
Thind invites anyone who may need a warm meal this holiday season to visit the restaurant to pick up a meal or call to have it delivered to their home. Since last year, Thind himself has also delivered meals around Cochrane to those who need them.
“Give us a call,” Thind said. “That’s it, that’s all you need. Either on Christmas Eve or at anytime please let us know. We are always open.
“But for the Christmas Eve especially, I’ll deliver meals to them myself.”
Anyone who is struggling this holiday season is invited to Mehtab on 120 Fifth Ave #2008, can call 403-851-0100, or can message Mehtab East Indian Cuisine on Facebook.
“We have no limitations,” Thind said. “Whatever is the max [amount of people] we can do, we will do that.”
