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durhamregion.com This Week | Thursday,February 10,2022 | 20 dryer With over 45 restaurants across Ontario,Lazeez Shawarma knows only toowell how the local restaurant industry has been hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite this, when they heard about the Largest Restaurant Gift Card Support Program, the Lazeez Shawarma family upped the ante and became the largest program sponsor by donating a record-setting $10,000 in gift cards! Spearheaded by The Mississauga News and Brampton Guardian in cooperation and Champions of the Cause (like-minded community business owners), the Largest Restaurant Support Program will see thousands of dollars of $10 and $20 gift cards purchased from small to mid-sized family or independently owned restaurants. The Champions of the Cause will distribute the cards in the community as a way of thanking customers and staff, while encouraging card holders to go and visit a local restaurant (and hopefully spend over and above the value of the gift card). "We are all hurting in the restaurant industry, but I honestly feel privileged to have this opportunity and to be in the position to be able to give back to our community," says Sahib Rana, Co-Founder/Franchise Manager of Lazeez Shawarma. "The Restaurant Gift Card Program is close to my heart because I've been in Canada for over three decades; my daughters were born here, and this is our home. Like goodneighbours, we help each other. These are tough times for the restaurant industry but when the going gets tough, the tough get going. If the communities keep supporting the local businesses, we will get through this turbulence. We hope that what we are doing will encourage other businesses to step up and help." Gautam Sharma, Advertising Director of Metroland Peel Region is overwhelmed by the outpouring of support shown by local businesses and their eagerness to help support the restaurant industry. "By initiating the largest gift certificate program in Ontario to support our local struggling restaurants, theMississaugaNewsand our Champions of the Cause have come together to build a culture of giving and sharing in our community," says Gautam Sharma, Advertising Director of The Mississauga News and Brampton Guardian. "The record-setting commitment by the Lazeez Shawarma family reflects their culture of giving back to the community." Lazeez Shawarma has a long history of philanthropy including organizing food drives to support local food banks and The Food Drive in Support of the Nav Bhatia SuperFan Foundation. The restaurant group also supports organizations such as Refugee Girls Worldwide, Diabetes Canada, Veterans Affairs Canada, Khalsa Aid and others. Every Canada Day, some 9,000 Canadian flags are handed out free at their locations across Ontario. Sahib says the $10,000 of gift cards will be handed out to front line workers throughout Ontario and he is working with various organizations to help co-ordinate the effort. "Our first priority with the gift card program is to donate the gift cards to front line workers as a way of saying thank you," says Sahib. "Front line workers are the backbone of our community, and it is important for us to show appreciation for their demanding work and sacrifices. It is so important for us to say, 'thanks for being there for us and we appreciate all you do.' I have found purpose in being involved with healthcare in our country. Our eldest daughter, Dr. Munsa Rana, is an optometrist and just opened Eyeology clinic in Brampton. Together we have been involved with Canadian EyeSight Global for nearly 20 years providing screening and glasses to those in need. Canada has provided a safe and healthy environment for my family and giving back comes naturally." Lazeez is a six-time consecutive winner of the Readers' Choice Awards for Favourite Middle Eastern Restaurant inMississauga andBrampton. For more information and to find the nearest Lazeez location, visit lazeezshawarma.com LAZEEZ SHAWARMA DONATES A RECORD- SETTING $10,000 TO SAY THANK YOU TO FRONT LINE WORKERS AS PART OF RESTAURANT SUPPORT PROGRAM ADVERTORIAL Two suspects are facing charges after officers executed a search warrant in Oshawa following an investigating into a scheme that saw stolen power tools sold online. An investigation began in January, Durham police said. It is alleged suspects stole power tools at hardware stores in the GTA, then sold them online, police said. Officers executed a search warrant at a Lakeview Avenue residence Feb. 3, seizing $5,000 worth of DeWalt power tools along worth crystal methamphetamine and cash. Facing charges including theft, possession of property obtained by crime and drug possession are Lisa Evegroen, 43, and Paul Sladeczek, 47, both of Oshawa. TWO CHARGED AS POLICE SEIZE $5,000 WORTH OF STOLEN TOOLS NEWS WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU SUBMIT YOUR LETTER TO THE EDITOR TODAY!