Feed the Prisoners
About Us
A mission born inside prison walls and carried out with open hands.
Our founder
A life sentence turned into a promise
Sajad Shakoor was sentenced to life in prison. After 21 years he walked free and promised to help the men he left behind. He went on to build and sell more than 20 Falafel Corner restaurants, and his kitchens have fed prisoners for years.
Today he shares his story of hope and dawah, and leads Feed the Prisoners so that every Muslim inside can sit at an Eid table with dignity.
The journey
How we got here
Sentenced to life
Sajad enters prison and sees how new Muslims are left without halal food or community.
21 years later
He is released and promises to help the men still inside.
Falafel Corner
His restaurants begin feeding prisoners, year after year.
Eid banquets grow
More prisons now say yes to Eid banquets, but they need community help to fund them.
Feed the Prisoners
A board of scholars, chaplains and formerly incarcerated leaders unites behind one mission.
Our board
Leaders who know the walls
Sajad Shakoor
Doctoral candidate at the Western Institute for Social Research in Berkeley. Built and sold 20+ Falafel Corner restaurants. Masters in Leadership and Education.
Shaykh Rami Nsour
Over 10 years in the Mauritanian mahdara tradition with ijaza. Co-founded the Tayba Foundation, the first US distance-learning Islamic program for incarcerated people. M.A. in Educational Psychology.
Julius Thibodeaux-Hasan
Community violence intervention strategist and former lifer of 23 years. Author of Cultivation of the Heart and Imam of Masjid AsSabur.
Imam Michael Salam
Over 20 years as a Muslim chaplain in CDCR. Treasurer and founding director of the Muslim American Chaplain Association, and trainer of chaplains for CDCR.
Gregory George
Served 43 years of a life sentence in California. Built and facilitated self-help groups including SAP, AA and violence prevention programs.
Stand with the men inside
Your gift turns into a hot halal meal and a reminder that they are not forgotten.