ROYAL OAK, Michigan— The Michigan Muslim Community Council (MMCC) is providing dinners, grocery vouchers and gas cards to all federal workers who are not being paid in an effort to reduce the difficulties caused by the government shutdown. The MMCC will be kicking off this effort on Friday, Jan. 25 at Detroit Metro Airport by providing dinner services to all Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and other federal employees working there. The MMCC will also be providing gasoline cards provided by Safiedine Oil Company and Exxon Mobil and grocery vouchers provided by Super Greenland and East Born Supermarkets at the same time.

Also, more than 70 local restaurants have agreed to provide lunch or dinner on Jan. 25 to families with up to four people at their locations for free simply by showing a valid government employee identification. The MMCC recognizes the critical work federal workers do every day and the real economic impact upon families who live paycheck to paycheck. Helping neighbors is one of the core tenets of the Islamic faith. The MMCC is honored to provide a small amount of relief to these workers over the next few days. The MMCC urges our elected officials to quickly resolve the federal shutdown.

“We salute the men and women who are federal employees, particularly when they are working without pay in order to keep us safe and keep important part of our country running,” said Dr. Mahmoud Al-Hadidi chairman of the MMCC. “Together, we can reduce the stress government workers are feeling. We succeed as a nation when we unite to address the challenges our fellow American citizens face.”

“We are thankful that so many people and businesses who have stepped up to show support and provide all of these services,” said Kassem Allie, a board member with the MMCC and executive administrator of the Islamic Center of America.

Participating restaurants that will provide lunch or dinner exclusively on Friday, January 25 are listed below. Please show government I.D. Limit four meals per family. Call directly to RSVP to confirm participating locations and serving times. The MMCC wishes to recognize the efforts and contributions of Nabih Ayad, Esq. chairman of the Wayne County Airport Authority Board, and Harry Dabaja of TSA. The MMCC works to empower Muslims in the state of Michigan to advance community service, civic engagement and social justice. For further information, please visit the MMCC website.

Participating Restaurants

Damas Restaurant – (248) 987-4609

Sultans Restaurant – (517) 333-4444

Malek AlKabob – (313) 203-2067

Royal Kabob – (313) 872-9456

Paradise Subs (Carry-Out Only) – (313) 724-6663

Brome Modern Eatery (Downtown Location/ Dinner Only) (313) 403-1200

Al-Ameer Restaurant – (313) 582-8185

Habibs Cuisine – (313) 584-1515 lunch only

Grape Leaves Restaurant – (248) 359-0000

Hot Bites Restaurant – (313) 581-7071

Wing Finger Restaurant – (313) 438-0388

Super Greenland Supermarket – (313) 584-5445

Leo’s Coney Island – (313) 253-0200

AlBasha Subs – (313) 846-9684

La Marsa Mediterranean Cuisine

Fifteen participating locations – (248) 539-5900

Big Boy Restaurants – (313) 291-7700

Alpena: (989) 354-4131

Bad Axe: (989) 269-9515

Battle Creek: (269) 968-0492

Brighton: (810) 360-0133

Brooklyn: (517) 592-3212

Cadillac: (231) 775-7125

Caro: (989) 673-7771

Cedar Springs: (616) 696-2100

Cheboygan: (231) 627-3661

Chelsea: (734) 593-9929

Clare: (989) 386-4525

Clinton Twp.: (586) 263-6220

Davison: (810) 653-3359

Essexville: (989) 892-9311

Gaylord: (989) 732-3592

Grand Rapids: (616) 451-2717

Grayling: (989) 348-8822

Greenville: (616) 225-0158

Imlay City: (810) 724-3664

Kalkaska: (231) 258-8651

Lake Orion: (248) 391-2920

Livonia: (734) 464-6670

Ludington: (231) 843-7670

Madison Heights: (248) 588-6600

Mason: (517) 676-4401

Midland: (989) 631-1059

Mt. Pleasant: (989) 772-2476

Novi: (248) 348-2391

Petoskey: (231) 347-2931

Rochester: (248) 852-5540

Rochester Hills: (248) 601-7777

Shelby Township: (586) 992-6492

St. Johns: (989) 224-6828

Stevensville: (269) 429-6171

Traverse City: (231) 941-7430

Warren: (586) 574-2340

Westland:734-595-1700

Wyandotte:734-285-8400

Ypsilanti:734-434-2255