Liam McNally
For Ramadan this year six community organisations have come together to host a food drive to give big to community members in need.
Together members of Melton Sisters Picnic, Human and Moral Development Centre (HMDC), Supporting Sisters Foundation (SSF), Melton Madina Musalla (MMM), Australian Multicultural Muslim Association (AMMA), and Melton Multicultural Community (MMC) organised the drive which ran from February 22 to April 20.
In this time the organisations helped donate over 400kg of non-perishable food among more than 20 muslim and non-muslim families in the Melton community.
Melton Sisters Picnic committee member Nura Rashid said Ramadan is a time to think about “how we’re going to contribute to the community and how to better ourselves and to make a difference in the lives of others”.
Supporting Sisters Foundation co founder Liz Darwish said this is what led the organisations to come together and help donate during this time, because Ramadan “isn’t just about abstaining from food”.
“We have to reflect collectively on our souls, those less fortunate, you fast and it reminds you of those that are hungry and so we came together to collaborate and work with each organisation within our local area,” she said.
Ms Darwish said the food drive followed the spirit of a quote from the Quran, “You will not achieve righteousness until you donate some of what you cherish and whatever you give is certainly well known to Allah”.
With the current climate of economic pressure, Ms Darwish said there’s a “big demand” for these types of donations, and the organisations are hoping to expand their collaborative work throughout the year with food, clothing, and toy drives.
