Hundreds of workers enjoy free festive fare

Dubai: More than 500 construction workers queued up for some festive food donated by companies and organised by volunteers of the Good Samaritan Charity on Saturday, as a gesture of support to the men who will spend the end of year celebrations far from their families.

"It's just a little bit of luxury," said Sunil John Korah, one of the directors of the charity.

For the second year running the charity mobilised itself to distribute food and juice to those less fortunate in Dubai.

"We do it every year for Christmas and Eid."

Fried chicken, sandwiches, samosas, fresh juice and biscuits were all donated by the Al Mayalal Group, the Al Safeer Group, Al Jadid Bakery and the Sind Punjab restaurants. Southern Fried Chicken provided batches of chicken at a discount to the charity especially for the handout.

Construction workers from a site nearby Zabeel Park were told of the free meal and came in large numbers on Saturday evening. Organisers set up tables and served the winding queue of people before they boarded buses back to their accommodation.

Zaher Shah, a Pakistani worker in his thirties, sat down on the grass with a plate of samosas and chicken.

Very good

"I have come straight from work, I saw the food and we were told we could take it. It is very good. The chicken is very good," he said.

Shah told Gulf News he was "just surviving" with his current salary and the cost of food.

Sunil Hiranandani, a volunteer, said: "As an Indian I think it's important to help our fellow countrymen, but also to help anyone in need. This is a good way to do good."

Weng Chang, 26, from Malaysia works as a supervisor.

From his place in the queue he told Gulf News: "I came last year when they did this, the food is good."

Chang said he does not often go out to fast food restaurants because they are too expensive.

Korah said: "I think they definitely need this although they do get food at their camps, but usually it is a typical Indian meal of rice and dahl, I don't think they get the chance very often to have some fried chicken.

"We are supporting them. There has been such a large response," he told Gulf News.