Zaitoune Lebanese Bakery owners feed Camden flood victims for free

In just six months, Camden residents have copped four floods. But, the devastating natural disasters have not impacted the community spirit. See how one couple has helped out.

After floods battered a southwest Sydney suburb for the fourth time in just six months a young couple decided to fling open their doors and help those who had been impacted by the deluge of water.

When Sakinah Takriti, known to most as Nina, and her husband Sam were looking for a place to open their Lebanese bakery they put a lot of work into finding the right spot.

After a lot of research, the young couple decided Camden was the perfect suburb for their business Zaitoune.

“To be honest it’s because the community here is so amazing,” Mrs Takriti said.

“Now, I say to my husband ‘If someone else were to give us a house for free but we had to leave Camden, I wouldn’t take it’.

“I wouldn’t live anywhere else. This community is so welcoming and this is our home now.”

In the last six months, Mrs Takriti has witnessed four floods wreak havoc on the town she calls home with houses, businesses and residents continually having to pick themselves up and get the clean-up underway.

Nina Takriti with her husband Sam at their business in Camden. The pair have been giving meals away for free to those impacted by the floods, the fourth in 2022. Picture: Annie Lewis

She said she has never seen anything like it.

“We have been close but thankfully we haven’t been flooded. It has come close but we haven’t actually gone under,” Mrs Takriti said.

“You are sitting there anxious because you are wondering if it is going to come up. You just don’t know.

“This time we had to shut for three days, which is hard but what are you going to do?”

When they reopened, the couple saw the devastation and the struggle residents were dealing with. Mrs Takriti said while as a small business they were doing it tough, what they were going through seemed to pale in comparison.

A general view shows a flooded area due to torrential rain in the Camden suburb of Sydney on July 3. Picture: Muhammad Farooq/AFP

So, she and her husband decided to help out where they could. On Wednesday night, they offered free meals to those who were impacted by the floods and after the overwhelming response decided to continue it until Friday night.

“I don’t want people to be embarrassed. I want to help people. Seeing the relief on their faces when they have that meal sorted is amazing,” Mrs Takriti said.

“We are a small family business but we want to help people. I have four kids and I can’t imagine my home flooding.”

Nina Takriti with her husband Sam at their business in Camden. Picture: Annie Lewis

Mrs Takriti said Camden was an incredible community that rallied around its residents in times of need.

“It’s our home now. We are all in this together,” she said.

“The community after they found out that we are trying to help out, they want to help us now. It’s overwhelming.

“I was in tears. I had random people coming in to say we would love to help you out to help other people. I had people saying we want to donate to you.”