Muslim Motel Owner Helps Katrina Evacuees

Salam/Peace:

Shabaz Khan Sherwani wished he'd known guests who arrived Monday night were from New Orleans. They left his La Quinta Inn that Tuesday morning. Sherwani figures it's because they were out of money. If he'd known, he would have insisted they stay put, money or no money.

So, now he's asking guests to show their driver's licenses when they check into the motel near Norcross.

Shabaz Khan Sherwani, owner of the La Quinta Inn on Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, has opened up the motel — and his heart — to help evacuees from New Orleans and other areas affected.

Sherwani wants to know if anybody's from Louisiana, Alabama or Mississippi. He wants to know because he wants to help, something he's been doing a lot of the past six days.

"You see the pain on their faces," said Sherwani, a Pakastani native who moved to Atlanta 16 years ago."It's a world responsibility to help."

[...]

On Thursday, 17 families from the Crescent City were staying at Sherwani's hotel, located off Peachtree Industrial Boulevard. Another 60 were expected to arrive through the night. The $367 weekly rate has been cut to $200. Rooms with double beds, usually $55, now rent for $45. No money? No problem. Sherwani will find someone — or some way — to pay.

Read the whole article at:
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/gwinnett/0905/04badie.html