Volunteers in Jeddah Ensure No One Goes Hungry During Ramadan Iftar
Local initiative provides free meals as residents rush home to break their fast.
In the course of Ramadan, a group of young volunteers in Jeddah has mobilized to provide free meals to those who may struggle to reach home in time for iftar, the evening meal that breaks the daily fast.
The initiative aims to support motorists, taxi drivers, and service workers navigating the busy streets of the city as sunset approaches each day.
As the call to prayer for Asr signals the end of the afternoon, over 300 volunteers comprise students, employees, and entrepreneurs arriving at various designated locations throughout Jeddah.
Their first task involves packing boxes filled with dates, water, and juice, preparing for hand-to-hand distribution just prior to iftar.
Al-Muthana Al-Dossary, leader of the Hattan volunteer organization, which has conducted various charitable activities throughout the year, emphasized the community's response to the initiative.
"The response has been incredible.
Locals from various parts of Jeddah are actively participating as volunteers," Al-Dossary stated.
The organization has reportedly served between 400 to 500 individuals daily, providing much-needed nourishment for taxi drivers, laborers, cyclists, building keepers, and others in need of a meal amid the fast-paced Ramadan evenings.
Al-Dossary underscored that the initiative is bolstered by generous contributions from community members, who also support additional charitable endeavors under the group's broader project framework.
He remarked on the spirit of giving during Ramadan, expressing how the meals not only satisfy physical hunger but also embody the essence of the holy month.
Seventeen-year-old Lina Al-Mamari echoed this sentiment, highlighting the initiative’s impact on social solidarity within the community.
"I am very proud to be part of this campaign.
It gives us the opportunity to offer a helping hand to those in need, and it strengthens social solidarity in our community," she noted.
Fellow volunteer Yazen bin Essa voiced similar feelings of satisfaction, stating, "When you help others, especially in the holy month of Ramadan, that’s the acts of kindness.
We want to ensure that as there is a call for breaking fast, no one should go hungry during this sacred time."
Approximately 50 meters away, another initiative undertaken by Namaa Charity and Al-Ittihad Club complements the efforts of Hattan.
The two organizations have collaborated to distribute iftar meals and food provision kits to workers and underprivileged families.
Abdulrahman Alamri, heading the distribution team, announced that their joint initiative, titled 'Fakkat Reeg' (Breaking Fast), aims to deliver approximately 5,000 meals daily across various locations.
This effort has been positioned as a significant element of Al-Ittihad Club’s annual Ramadan program, working in partnership with Namaa Charity to support those who may find themselves fasting away from home.