Fatima Sidaoui, The Circle
Motivated by the spirit of selflessness and sharing that especially prevails during the month of Ramadan, the Muslim Student Association (MSA) at Conestoga College arranged a food drive for the homeless in Kitchener and Cambridge on Saturday, June 9. The event took place during the Holy month of Ramadan.
Led by Mariam Mesto, President of the MSA, and Niveen Shrem, a mature student and social activist, a group of thirteen volunteers packed and handed out food bags to people in need in the community. The volunteers—from young children to adolescents, youth, and adults, all of them fasting—participated enthusiastically in the event as inspired by the Islamic teachings:
“(The righteous) are those who feed the hungry…” (Quran, 78:8-9).
“He is not a believer who eats his fill whilst his neighbour beside him goes hungry” (Hadith by Prohphet Mohammad P.B.U.H., Bukhari)
The first stop was at the City Hall in Kitchener, where volunteers joyfully distributed food bags to people in need nearby. The volunteers also dropped off a number of food bags at homeless shelters in Kitchener and Cambridge. Sponsored by Shaan Foods, Mozy’s Shawarma, and The Islamic Centre of Cambridge (ICC), a total of 265 bags were distributed.
The event was covered by the Waterloo Region Record.
