Salvation Army service users enjoy Eid feast

Around 50 men and women at our Niddry Street drop-in service in Edinburgh were treated to a feast of Indian food to mark the end of Ramadan.

The meal was provided to the Salvation Army by local restaurant Voujon as their way of celebrating the Muslim festival of Eid.

Mosthafa Miah, manager of Voujon, said: "Charity and giving is an important part of our faith. To mark the end of Ramadan we try to help others who may be facing difficulties in their lives.

“We know the Salvation Army in Edinburgh does great work in helping people overcome homelessness so we wanted to show our appreciation and to give the service users a bit of a treat. We hope they enjoyed it.”

The Salvation Army's Niddry Street service, just off Edinburgh's Royal Mile, provides a safe haven for people experiencing homelessness and other social issues. The drop-in is open every day from 9am to 1pm and provides a range of support, including breakfast and lunch, and access to laundry and shower facilities.

One service user who enjoyed the meal was Calum Black. He said: "I never really get the chance to enjoy Indian food so this was a really nice experience for myself and the other guys. The owners of Voujon didn't have to do this but I understand they wanted to do something for the Salvation Army as their way of marking the end of Ramadan.  We're delighted that they chose here because the food was incredible."

Alison Douglas, programme co-ordinator, said: “Our sincere thanks to the team at Voujon for thinking of us at this special time for them. We are grateful for their generosity and for providing a unique dining experience to the men and women who use our service.”

Eid al-Fitr (also spelled Eid ul-Fitr) is a significant date for Muslims all over the world. The name translates into English as the ’festival of breaking of the fast’. The festival marks the end of Ramadan, the holiest month of the Muslim year and a period of fasting. Eid al-Fitr was started by the Islamic prophet Muhammad and is a time where Muslims show gratitude to Allah and give alms to the poor.