Thinking of a way the Muslim community in Canada can help those in need, a group of volunteers have collected donations to support refugees in different countries around the world.
Ramadan Basket effort was kicked off in 2016. This year’s baskets will be distributed in Afghanistan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Somali, Yemen, Niger, and Palestine by charity partner Islamic Relief Canada.
“The idea of Ramadan Basket is for us to share our blessings that we have here in Canada with the needy family abroad, so in countries that are poor and they don’t have much to put on the table,” Mouhamad Tarbine, an organizer, told CTV News.
Each basket costs $60 and has enough food to support a family of four for the month.
“For us, $60 is not much, but for them, it means the world. It changes quite a bit for them for the whole month,” he added. “The need is beyond imagination.”
Bigger Dreams
Over the past years, Tarbine said more than 16,000 families had been fed. He expects this year the project will exceed its record of 7,600 baskets.
“It’s a great community here in Edmonton,” he said. “The month of Ramadan is a month of giving for us.
“They always come through with their generosity and their donations.”
Muslims dedicate their time during the holy month to become closer to Allah through prayer, self-restraint, and good deeds.
Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. It started on Saturday April 2 in most countries around the world, with only few countries starting the fasting month on Sunday.