WATCH ABOVE: The owner of Padmanadi restaurant is going to Nepal to cook for the thousands who are now homeless. Jessica Kent explains how you can help.
EDMONTON — Kasim Kasim is no stranger to helping others.
“It’s just the aura that he has,” says friend Martin Flint. “He is, what I would say, a very good man.”
Flint explains that Kasim has been on many humanitarian trips following natural disasters, including to Burma, Thailand and Indonesia.
When the restaurant owner heard about the April 25 earthquake in Nepal, he was moved to act.
“What can we say? Kasim, two days after it happened, he said ‘I’m going’ and that was it.”
READ MORE: UN calls for urgent aid for Nepal after devastating earthquakes
Kasim owns and operates Padmanadi Vegetarian Restaurant with his daughter Maya Pramitha. On Sunday, they’ll host a buffet and silent auction to raise funds for relief efforts in Nepal.
“We’re really grateful,” says Pramitha. “The tickets are selling really, really quick.”
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There will be two seatings: one for a lunch buffet at noon and another at 5:30 p.m., which is already sold out. The federal government will match the money raised through ticket sales. Tickets are $50 each and all proceeds will go to help those in Nepal.
“When the earthquake happened, my sister showed it to him and he’s like ‘oh my gosh, these poor people…I’m going to go and help them. I’m just going to cook in Nepal,'” recalls Pramitha.
The family is also working with two Edmonton-based not-for-profit organizations with ties to Nepal. Those groups will help organize efforts once Kasim and Flint arrive in Nepal on June 10. They’ll be there for about one month.
READ MORE: Edmonton family survives Nepal earthquakes; student’s school sends help
“With disasters, money can’t really do anything sometimes,” says Kasim’s daughter. “Sometimes it’s that hope. You have to just be there.”
Feeding people who have experienced so much loss is a simple way Kasim can help, she says.
“When he’s cooking this hot food he just wants to give that warmth to these people, he’s telling them that everything will be OK.”
“I feel so blessed,” says her father. “I’m very lucky I can go over there and help people.”
Kasim invited Flint to come along.
The retiree says he’s a little nervous, but not scared.
“I can’t believe they’ve actually had 38 earthquakes aftershocks after the April 25 one,” says Flint. “For those poor people to have gone through that on April 25 and then for it to happen again.
“Every time there’s a little tremor they just run out, they’re so scared.”
For Flint, being able to do something for “ordinary people” is the main reason for making the journey.
And why does Kasim himself feel the need to be there in person?
“Love all, serve all and give all,” he says simply.
“I love people.”
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