Ziyad Brothers Rally Food Donors To Help Beirut Tragedy Victims

CICERO, IL — The Cicero-based Middle Eastern food distributor, Ziyad Brothers Importing, brought together leading Lebanese food manufacturers to provide food donations to help victims of the "Beirut Blast," according to a news release.

On Aug. 4, an explosion rocked the city of Beirut in Lebanon, causing at least 190 deaths and more than 6,500 injuries. The explosion devastated the lives of many in Beirut and caused a need for necessities.

According to the release, Ziyad Brothers Importing is one of the most recognized producers of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean foods in the United States. The company distributes products to more than 2,500 ethnic grocery stores, and over 10,000 major mainstream American food retailers, according to the release.

The Ziyad Brothers team is currently on ground in Beirut, organizing food distribution and coordinating donations from eight popular local distributors. According to the release, these distributors include Al Rabih, Castania, Grapeful, Mechaalany, Second House Gourmet Foods, Al Forno, Msallem and Ziyad.

According to the release, Ziyad Brothers CEO, Nemer Ziyad, said that the drive is intended to boost the spirit and morale of the people of Beirut and Lebanon.

“With our local efforts along with our partners in Lebanon, we hope to empower our communities, help the local economy and provide a glimpse of hope for a better future,” Nemer Ziyad said, according to the release.

"We believe that hope starts with food. We want to remind Beirut that they are important to us by providing special high-quality food that we hope will comfort them during these difficult times. We also want them to know that they will not be forgotten and that the world cares," Ziyad said according to the release. "Ziyad truly cares, and we want to do our best to strengthen their will to restore, rebuild and move forward. That is the Lebanese spirit."

The release also states that Maher Chebaro, a renowned food specialist, chef and critical member of the Ziyad team is on the ground in Beirut overseeing the support drive.

"Being Lebanese, this is coming from my heart but being a member of Ziyad Brothers, is also coming from the spirit of community support that Ziyad has built over the years, and I am proud to be a part of that," Chebaro said according to the release. "In a time filled with so much loss and heartache, we’re dedicated to giving families the joy and peace of eating together."

For more information on Ziyad Brothers Importing and their Support Beirut Campaign, visit them online at their website.