Covid-19 and Small Acts of Kindness: 4 Sisters Kabob and Curry

We wrote about 4 Sisters Kabob and Curry’s new restaurant a few months ago when they were first starting out selling their Pakistani and Indian food from their newly acquired food truck. Since then, they have been busily building a broad and devoted following. They were even exploring locations for a sit-down restaurant.

And then Covid-19 hit.

Unlike many other restaurants, 4 Sister was already a carry-out service. They were already delivering to the Easton community, so you would think that little would change for them. But, in a Facebook post a couple of days, Andleeb Khan, one of the four sisters, asked for help. But not the kind you’d expect.

I wanted to let our community know that if there is anyone in need of food, please stop by and grab a platter from us at 600 Dover Road, Easton MD, 21601. We know everyone in the community wants to help local businesses like ours, but today we want to help the community. We are just doing this because, at the end of the day, money is not everything; humanity is something, as well. This is something I learned from my mom. Please, if anyone that sees my post and knows anyone in need, please send them our way we would love to help.

The thing is, this was nothing new. “If anyone came to us looking for food, we always made sure they had some,” said Khan. They went public with their request for a couple of reasons. The first was the realization that the closing of schools were having real consequences to those who were dependent on school meal programs. The second reason was Shahida Perveen, the mother of the four sisters and the culinary artist of the restaurant, who couldn’t sit back and do nothing. The family agreed. “We told her,” says Khan, “if you feel that this is what’s going to help you feel better with all this craziness happening, then we’re behind you.”

The word has gotten out. Yesterday, their first customer of the day told them her family was going through a really tough time. She left with a platter of food. “It made all of us feel so good that we were able to do something,” said Khan.

In a way, it’s giving back. Three months ago when the truck’s water pump was stolen, they got some unexpected help. Khan remembers: “When the community found out, people stopped by and ordered food from us and donated money to help us get a new pump. It was such a blessing for us in our time of need, and that’s something we will always remember.”

The family has decided to dedicate every Thursday as a ‘Day of Giving.’ “But if there is someone in need Tuesday or a Wednesday, they’re more than welcome to stop by, anytime during our opening hours, and we’re more than happy to give them anything we can afford to give them. It doesn’t have to be a Thursday, but that’s the day we’ll be set up to handle the needs of the community. We don’t need to know anything else, just tell us you need it.”

The family is aware but doesn’t dwell on the possibility that some may try to take advantage of their kindness, and while it is unclear how long they can extend their generosity, they are committed to meeting as many needs as possible for the foreseeable future. “It’s like this,” sums up Khan, “we’re lucky that God has given us so much. He’s given us all this opportunity to give back, and we will.”