United News of Bangladesh

After sharing a nightly iftar meal with family during Ramadan, Nadine Daoud noticed that her grandmother’s refrigerator was often filled with full pots and trays of leftover food. She frequently felt that the food was quickly forgotten and wasted. Atif Aslam’s new naat elevates spirituality during Ramadan This observation led to the creation of The Helping Handzzz Foundation in 2017, which brings together volunteers during the Islamic holy month to collect excess food from families in Dearborn—a city with a large Arab population, nearly half of its 110,000 residents—and distribute it to homeless individuals in nearby Detroit. Daoud explained that the foundation’s work reflects Islam’s emphasis on valuing resources, like food, and aligns with Ramadan’s focus on “self-discipline and empathy towards those less fortunate.” “Every family prepares a lot of food to break the fast at the end of the day,” Daoud shared. “But a lot of food gets left over, stored in the fridge, and forgotten about the next day.” “What I decided to do was, instead of letting it go to waste or throwing it away, I thought, ‘Let me take it to those I see on the streets. I’ll give it to them with a drink and a nice treat on the side.’” On one recent night, Helping Handzzz board members Hussein Sareini, Daoud Wehbi, and four others had an iftar meal prepared by Sareini’s mother. After the meal, attendees prayed together, then Wehbi joined Sareini in his truck. They went around the area collecting untouched dishes from various homes, before heading to a mosque parking lot where Daoud and others organized the food. A caravan of cars then visited several locations in Detroit, where homeless people are regularly found. Board member Mariam Hachem approached a man lying on the sidewalk wrapped in blankets. “Hi, we have a meal for you,” she said. “We’re going to set it right here, OK?” “OK,” he replied. Other volunteers added bottled water and a sweet treat alongside the meal. The Helping Handzzz team carries out this routine six nights a week during Ramadan, taking Sundays off. This effort comes after a day of fasting from sunrise to sunset. Wehbi, a 27-year-old design engineer at Toyota, and Sareini, who works in residential remodeling, said they are happy to dedicate their evenings until 9 or 10 p.m. to making a positive impact. Govt reduces import duties on fruits for Ramadan “It’s all about appreciating what you have,” Sareini said. Wehbi, 27, noted that their work aligns with the spirit of Ramadan. “It’s not just a time of fasting from food and drink,” he explained. “It’s also about personal growth, coming together as a community, and improving ourselves and each other.”