A Syrian man who sought refuge in Darlington has vowed to help feed struggling families.
Falafel Fella will host occasional pop-ups, with all profits donated to local food banks.
It comes after owner Mouhyedin Alkalil revealed plans to use the business to give something back to the town.
He made the announcement on Sunday, November 8, ten years since Mouhyedin first came to Darlington from his home country Syria.
Rather than reopening a permanent shop like he previously had in Darlington, he hopes to run pop ups once a month or potentially more often, serving up food while raising money for struggling families.
After fleeing his hometown of Homs in Syria aged 18 to escape the civil war in 2011, Mouhyedin settled in Darlington in 2016, where he worked as an Uber driver and took on odd jobs before saving enough to open his own business, Falafel Fella in 2018.
In December 2024, he returned to Syria to reunite with family he had not seen since leaving as a teenager.
He returned to Darlington in early 2025, to work as an Uber driver and has always remained connected to the North-East.
In a video shared on Facebook, Mouhyedin said: "I just wanted to say guys today I am celebrating my ten years being in the UK in Darlington, especially, today it is November 8, 2026. I came to Darlington November 8, 2016 and you know looking at this journey my last ten years being here there is no word that could describe my feelings. The amount of love and support and care I've received is unbelievable."
He said the idea was inspired by stories he has heard over the past two years while working as an Uber driver in the town.
He said: "It's unbelievable people are struggling to pay for their food and families are struggling to get their groceries everyday."
Mouhyedin hopes the project will bring people together, with customers enjoying his food while helping support those in need.
He said: "I thought the best way to celebrate my ten years being in the UK would be by bringing Falafel Fella back and donating all the profit."
He will support local food banks, including King's Church.
Mouhyedin described the campaign as a way of supporting the community.
He said: "Because Darlington has given me so much over the past 10 years, I want to support my community."
Falafel Fella previously operated as a shop in Darlington before closing in June 2024 due to rising costs.
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Mouhyedin continued attending events with a pop-up stall across Darlington and County Durham before returning to Syria in December to visit family he had not seen since he was a teenager.
His returned to Darlington last year and held a pop up in June 2025 at the Darlington Community Carnival.
Dates and details of the latest pop-ups are expected soon.
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