Ema Haq, owner of Bailey’s Seafood and Grill, uses his restaurant yearly to offer Thanksgiving dinner to those who might not have the opportunity to break bread in a family setting. An immigrant from Bangladesh who came to Lafayette in 1983 at the age of 19, Haq attended USL and received a mechanical engineering degree. His restaurant came later in his career, and Haq has frequently opened his doors to those in need. Tomorrow, his focus will be on Haiti.
On Wednesday, Feb. 10, Haq will open Bailey’s to benefit UL Lafayette students from Haiti. The restaurant will offer a buffet for patrons from 5 to 10 p.m. with all proceeds going to the already-established UL Lafayette Haiti Relief Fund. The minimum donation is $20 per person.
Fourteen Haitian students are currently enrolled at the university. All have heard from their parents in Haiti following the recent earthquake and aftershocks. “These students rely on their parents for financial help,” said interim Dean of Students Pat Cottonham. “With the widespread devastation from the earthquake, their families won’t be able to provide this help.”
Haq said he wanted to do something for these students when he heard they were in need. “I was once an international student here at UL Lafayette,” he said. “I know how hard it is financially but with this devastation, I can’t even begin to imagine.”
Businesses which would like to pre-purchase a block of buffet tickets, can call Haq at 988-6464.
Anyone interested in donating directly to UL Lafayette’s Haiti Relief Fund, can do so online. Or donations can be dropped off at the UL Lafayette Credit Union, 619 McKinley Street. Please specify Haitian Relief Fund with your donation.
For questions about donations, email
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or call (337) 482-6276.
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