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Rainham Indian restaurant Sundar Rachana makes more than 1,000 curries for NHS and charities, including Gillingham Street Angels

15:51, 27 April 2022

updated: 15:52, 27 April 2022

A curry house boss estimates his restaurant has made more than 1,000 meals for good causes in the past two years.

Sundar Rachana director Saif Islam has been helping his community since 2018 but says since the pandemic he has been giving back a lot more.

Saif Islam with the hundreds of donated meals. Picture: Saif Islam
Saif Islam with the hundreds of donated meals. Picture: Saif Islam

He said: "I have always been taught to check on my neighbours and community. My parents always taught me and brought me up like this to help others.

"I feel like I am blessed to have the capability to do so. I try to do as much as I can.

"The local community appreciate my help and it makes me happy to do that as well."

Last week, Saif held a fundraising event at the restaurant in Lower Rainham Road, Rainham, for Pride in Medway winners Gillingham Street Angels.

The evening raised £1,800 through a raffle, auction and two-thirds of every meal's cost being donated. The curry house also made 300 dinners for the charity which helps the homeless and others in need.

From left: Saif Islam and Gillingham Street Angels boss Neil Charlick at the fundraising event. Picture: Saif Islam
From left: Saif Islam and Gillingham Street Angels boss Neil Charlick at the fundraising event. Picture: Saif Islam

Angels' boss Neil Charlick said Saif has been an enormous help to the charity and they can ring him up and ask for meals when they are needed.

He added: "We cannot operate without businesses and people like Saif. We have been very lucky in Medway to have a good volunteer network.

"We are grateful all the time. It is people like them that make this possible."

Neil said with the rising cost of living the charity is finding people in need are asking for quick and easy ready-meals instead of other food as it is more affordable to cook.

Therefore food donations like those provided by Saif are important.

From left: Saif Islam and volunteer from Gillingham Street Angels with a van of meals supplied by the restaurant. Picture: Saif Islam
From left: Saif Islam and volunteer from Gillingham Street Angels with a van of meals supplied by the restaurant. Picture: Saif Islam

Saif has been helping his community four years by donating dishes to individuals and organisations.

The dad has cooked curries and rice for Medway hospital, held fundraisers for the homeless and ambulance service and helps the Street Angels out with ready-meals every few months.

Although he could not put an exact figure on it, he estimates he has made more than 1,000 meals for good causes and hopes his nine-year-old son Aiden will follow his example.

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