Food banks collect 2,000 tonnes for needy

More than 2,000 tonnes of food have been collected for the UAE Food Bank over the past year.

The project has distributed 80 fridges to the mosques of Dubai and 10 fridges each in Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah.

It also took part in the Dubai International Food Safety Conference through an awareness platform, and on World Food Day, a social media contest raised awareness of food waste. Meals helped 8,000 workers through the Bank’s agreements with grocery companies and producers.

“The 2018 plan will focus on co-ordination with the other emirates to establish UAE Food Bank collection sites,” said Dawood Al Hajiri, director general of Dubai Municipality and vice chairman of the Bank’s Board of Trustees. “The focus will be on a range of projects that serve the bank’s objectives, and it is important that initiatives outside the country be developed and assistance be provided to affected countries.”

In co-ordination with Careem, the Bank will collect surplus food from individuals and deliver it to Food Bank fridges at mosques in Dubai.

It will also provide 1,500 snacks and 500 meals a day to RTA bus drivers and 700 meals a day for workers in labour accommodation, in partnership with Zabeel Palace.

At the Gulfood Exhibition in 2017-2018, food surplus was donated with Dubai World Trade Centre, Tarahum Charity Foundation, Dar Al Ber Society and Lulu Hypermarket. Donations have helped 2,000 families for far.

Each Friday in the first quarter of 2018, the Bank distributed 1,000 meals to workers, provided by Zabeel Palace.