One of the "nicest places in the United States" just got friendlier in the midst of the government shutdown.
Syrian refugee and restaurant owner Yassin Terou decided to offer federal workers - affected by the U.S. government shutdown - free falafel.
The shutdown, which has been ongoing since Dec. 22, came after democratic and republican lawmakers failed to come to an agreement on a congressional spending bill.
In response to the longest U.S. government shutdown, Terou, the owner of Yassin's Falafel House in Tennessee, offered workers free lunch.
"It's important for me [to provide free meals] because these guys are our brothers and sisters, and they already did the work, and they aren't getting paid," Terou said, according to ABC News.
"For someone like me who is living the American dream in the American land…I believe every hard worker should reach his goal and have a good level of life."
Terou announced the initiative on the restaurant's Facebook page with the hashtag #WeAllNeedLovePlusFalafel.
"We are more than happy to serve them because they been serving us all this days [sic] and we are not going to let them alone."
According to ABC News, an estimated 10 people have stopped in for falafel since the restaurant began its initiative. Terou stressed that the initiative will continue until the government shutdown comes to an end.
Federal workers will get a free meal of their choice as long as they present their employee ID to the cashier.
The shutdown has left 800,000 government employees without pay or placed on temporary leave.
Terou opened the falafel house in 2014. His motto: "When you break bread, you break hate."
