This article was previously published on GuelphToday.
The holiday season is often a time to think of those in need.
Kirtida Kitchen in Guelph wants to show it's support in the best way it knows how leading up to the festive season with the launch of the first, '12 Days for Giving.'
With support from the community, the restaurant will match every meal donated by customers from Dec. 13 to Dec. 24.
Customers can buy from selected meals to donate for someone in need. For every meal donated, Kirtida Kitchen will match it, doubling the number of meals.
"If someone donates one meal, we’ll add another, making it two meals. If two meals are donated, we’ll add two more, making it four meals," said Kirtida Kitchen co-owner Hitesh Jagad.
Moving to a new dine-in location at 245 Edinburgh Rd. in the fall, Hitesh and his wife Kirtida continue to feature vegetarian and vegan north Indian cuisine. The couple look forward to spreading the joy by sharing their cuisine with those in need during the holiday season.
"This is something we want to try, something new for this time of year," Jagad said.
"We are trying to keep everything under $10. Anybody who donates, we will match that $10 meal. So, we will make two meals. We will keep the receipts and then post them on our windows."
People will be able to access posted meal receipts from the new restaurant location as well as the original take-out restaurant location on Eramosa Road.
"Those in need can simply take a receipt from the window, bring it inside, and get a meal, no questions asked," Jagad said.
Jagad is thankful to see his new dine-in location up and running this year and is grateful to the Guelph community for all of the support and encouragement he and his wife continue to receive.
"This is the festive season and it's season of giving. We always appreciate our community that supports us here for so long," Jagad said.
"Because of their support, we've expanded and we now have a dining location as well. So, what we are doing is just giving back to the community and to the members of our community who are unfortunate and who do not have access to food."
And celebrating its fifth year, Kirdita Kitchen will continue it's annual tradition of offering free meals on Christmas Day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
"We have heard form people who come in on Christmas Day, who say that they have never had this kind of food and that they are not able to dine-in or even get takeout," Jagad said.
Everyone is welcome, Jagad said, to come in and enjoy a warm, festive meal.
"This gives them an opportunity to try some restaurant style food and of course, we get to see their smiles," he said.
"We just want to say thank you to the community for their love and support for our business. As part of this wonderful community of Guelph, we want to do our best to support those who are unfortunate, in any way we can."
