Dubai Bling star a shining example of giving with iftar initiative
▶ The Giving Family has set a target of distributing 500,000 meals to blue-collar workers across the city
An entrepreneur in Dubai has teamed up with thousands of volunteers to try to serve more than 500,000 iftar meals to blue-collar workers.
Non-profit organisation The Giving Family, founded in 2022 by Fadie Musallet, distributed more than 17,000 meals free of charge in two days, after Ramadan began on Monday.
Workers living in labour accommodation in Al Quoz Industrial Area 1 benefitted from the initiative.
Charity organisations, restaurants, private sector companies and members of the public donated funds through Beit Al Khair Society to provide food to low-income workers.
The meals, which cost Dh7 ($1.90) to make, consist of chicken biryani, a carton of juice and three dates.
“We just want to put a smile on their faces and recognise their efforts in building the city,” Mr Musallet, also a cast member of Netflix series Dubai Bling, told The National.
He said the volunteers taking part in the iftar initiative aimed to hand out between 10,000 and 15,000 meals on Friday.
Last year, The Giving Family provided more than 200,000 iftar meals to workers during the holy month.
Mr Musallet said he hoped to double that number this year, after about 5,000 volunteers pledged to help.
He said he was inspired to launch the project by the 1 Billion Meals campaign, announced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.
The project last year established a food endowment fund as a means to achieve sustainable food aid.
“I love giving and this initiative motivated me even more,” Mr Musallet said.
He said anyone could volunteer with the organisation and that he has a licence to distribute the meals.
“All you have to do is check our Instagram for the location
and timing for the distribution plan, and bring your helping hands,” he said.
During Ramadan, it is customary for Muslims to help those less fortunate.
People in Dubai who want
to distribute iftar meals to the public independently must first apply for permission from the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department.
Ahmed Al Muhairi, director general of the department, said it issued about 1,200 permits this Ramadan. “Our aim is to distribute 1.2 million iftar meals per day across the city,” said Mr Al Muhairi.
Vietnamese Foodies, a restaurant chain in Dubai, also plans to distribute 1,500 meals to those in need during Ramadan.
It is to make the deliveries in collaboration with licensed charity Dubai Good Will.
The iftar meals will include an appetiser, a main course, a bag of fruit and a drink. “We are delighted to be able to
prepare and distribute 1,500 meals during Ramadan,” said Lily Hoa Nguyen, Vietnamese Foodies co-founder and executive chef.
“Our team is ready to ensure this is a successful project that will benefit the local community to allow us to give back to those who need it.”
The Ramadan initiative will run on Wednesday, with the meals to be handed out at Al Futtaim Mosque in Dubai.
Other iftar projects will also be launched during the holy month to help those in need.
Dar Al Ber Society in Dubai is to work with hundreds of volunteers to distribute 100,000 meals a day.
The Emirates Red Crescent’s Continuous Giving campaign
will provide iftar meals for one million people across the UAE.
Women-only Ramadan and iftar tents will also be set up across Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ajman for the first time, as part of the project.
Abu Dhabi Police launched an initiative to hand out more than 62,000 iftar meals to motorists who stop at junctions and traffic lights.
Brig Saif Al Shamsi said that this annual Ramadan initiative would take place in the capital and Al Ain.
“Many volunteers will distribute the light iftar meals in a bid to deter motorists from flouting traffic rules when rushing to break their fast,” he said.
We are delighted to be able to distribute 1,500 meals during Ramadan. Our team is ready to ensure this is a success LILY HOA NGUYEN Vietnamese Foodies