Metrolife: Tis' the season of giving

Mohammed Farooq, a resident of Benson Town, used to visit slums while working in his father’s Urdu newspaper. That is when he realised the extent of poverty around him.

“I set up the Al-Aman Educational and Welfare Trust in 1995 along with my brother. We have Ashiana Old Age Home, Food Bank and Cloth Bank, with acitivies through the year. During Ramzan, at our old age home near Devanahalli, we prepare extra food for Sehri and Iftiyari and keep our gates open for anyone who wants to stop by and have a meal with us,” says Farooq.

Ashiana Food Bank regularly provides meals for 120 dialysis patients at city hospitals. “We have a food bank at Mosque Road, functional from Monday to Saturday, where we provide food for 50 people every day. During Ramzan, we prepare extra food and take it to mosques to serve the needy.”

There is also an open refrigerator at Mosque Road open seven days a week, from 7 am to midnight, and involves citizen participation. “If you have ordered too much at a restaurant, you can leave the food in the fridge and anyone who is hungry can pick it up from there,” he says.

The Ashiana Cloth Bank collects old, reusable and wearable clothes throughout the year. Farooq adds, “Ramzan is the perfect time for self-evaluation and giving. During this time, we gift new clothes to poor families with children, women and the elderly.”

Dr Syed Habeeb, founder of The United Foundation (TUF), says the organisation does its bit to spread the spirit of the festival. “We give out ration supplements to widows and elderly people throughout the year. We give this out to 160 families in areas like EWS Quarters, Rajendranagar, and Neelasandra.”

“Additionally, during Ramzan, we hand out kits to 1,200 families, with supplies that help them survive through the entire month. The kit includes Sona Masuri rice, wheat, cooking oil, toor dal, dates, sugar, and rava, and costs about Rs 2,000. We also give out 10 per cent of such kits to our non-Muslim brethren,” he adds.

To help celebrate Eid with festive fervour, TUF hands out a festive kit (worth Rs 500 to 700) which includes items rice, ghee and vegetables needed for the preparation of ‘biryani’.

“While we observe this month, it is important to help those around, who can feel a little better with just a kind gesture,” adds Syed.

Al-Aman Educational & Welfare Trust: 99649 08600
The United Foundation: 98450 47360