Don't waste food on Ramadan, feed people in need

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Dont waste food on Ramadan, feed people in need
Volunteers of Royati Family Society prepare food packets as part of its Sahem initiative.

Dubai - Dubai Municipality is coordinating with charities and donors to supply the surplus food to underprivileged families.

By Ankita Chaturvedi

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Published: Tue 7 Jun 2016, 6:25 PM

Last updated: Tue 7 Jun 2016, 10:02 PM

Less cooking, less grocery shopping and minimal wastage of food is the target for this year's Ramadan in the UAE.
To make sure food is not wasted, the Dubai Municipality is coordinating with charities and donors to supply the surplus food to underprivileged families.
Sahem, an initiative started three years ago by Royati Family Society, focuses on collecting food across the city and distributing it amongst the needy people. Every Ramadan, a group of young men and women participate in this food drive so that labourers and less fortunate segment of the society get meal boxes.
"Through this drive we extend help and support to the less privileged people living in Dubai, Ajman and Sharjah. We provide essential food items to them during Ramadan season every year," said Lina Kilani, head of social projects at Royati Family Society.
To utilise the surplus of food in a healthy and organised manner and contribute in alleviating the suffering of needy individuals, the Food Safety Department of Dubai Municipality has launched Heafz Al Na'amah initiative. Meitha Thani Al Marri, senior food health inspection officer at the department, highlighted the municipality's role in safe food donation. "During Ramadan, we will be focusing on Iftar tents hosted by restaurants and hotels across Dubai and will try to limit their food wastage by coordinating with them to donate the excess food. We will also focus on raising the awareness among the community through social media on the same issue and guiding them on how to limit it while preparing food at home or grocery shopping."
Sponsor Meals
Under the campaign 'You Sponsor, We Deliver' by Health Factory and Epicure, Iftar meal boxes costing Dh10 each would be supplied at labour accommodations and mosques. Corporate groups and individuals can order meal boxes in bulk and a minimum order worth Dh50 will be delivered at the desired location without any extra transportation charges.
Karan Chauhan, marketing specialist at Health Factory, said: "We have started the Iftar meal box concept for charity in 2015. The price of a meal box is reduced to Dh10 this year from Dh12.50 last year. We have already received order for 1,000 boxes. We are targeting to deliver 15,000 boxes this year."
Danube Group distributes more than 2,500 Iftar meals every day during Ramadan. "Many locations across Dubai, Sharjah and Oman receive a total of more than 75,000 Iftar meals. One of our popular yearly initiatives concludes with a lucky draw amongst blue-collared workers which offers free Haj trip for two winners," said Rizwan Sajan, founder & chairman, Danube Group.
ankita@khaleejtimes.com


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