UAE | Heritage and Culture
Generous donations make Eid special for the needy
As Ramadan draws to a close, residents are donating generously to help the less-privileged enjoy Eid celebrations.
- By Syed Bilal Shafi, Staff Reporter
- Published: 01:18 September 30, 2008
- Image Credit: Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News
- A man gives charity at the Union Co-operative Society supermarket on Al Wasl road.
Dubai: As Ramadan draws to a close, residents are donating generously to help the less-privileged enjoy Eid celebrations.
Separate tents set up in front of Union Co-operative Societies and containers allocated for charitable purposes at malls are being filled with goods, such as clothes, toys, books, mattresses, shoes, electronics and emergency and humanitarian items.
Several charitable associations such as Dar Al Bir, Bait Al Khair Society, Dubai Charity Association, Sharjah Charity Association, have set up stalls in supermarkets, and are collecting staple food items.
Many Muslims are also buying charity coupons, which will enable charity organisations to provide food for those in need.
Apart from regular charitable donations, Muslims are obligated to give Zakat Al Fitr, a kind of charity given towards the end of Ramadan.
This charity is generally given in the form of staple food that is used locally, whether it is wheat, rice, dates, lentils or barley. However, many Muslims donate other items as well.
Sameera Arbabi, Head of Media Department from Dubai Charity Association - an organisation that sets up tents - said: "Our tents are overflowing with donations from residents. We have already distributed 30,000 items worth Dh630,000 to the poor."
The tents are located in Al Twar, Al Safa, Mankhool and Manama areas.
"With the help of corporate sponsorship, the organisation also sent 10 poor people for the Umrah (voluntary pilgrimage to Makkah) this month," she said.
The Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services will provide Kiswah Al Eid (Eid clothes) to disabled people.
More from UAE Heritage & Culture
More from UAE
Latest news
- Youngsters dance and raise cash for charity
- Dubai departments upgrade services
- Get yourself a free test for diabetes
- Ensuring a safety net for intellectual property
- Reader's issue addressed
- 5,552 illegals held in Dubai this year
- Man cleared because he took drugs in France
- Man charged with trafficking women
- Auditors to probe Mizin graft case
- Breaking down cultural barriers with photographs
- Abu Dhabi Crown Prince visits Islamic centre
- Police's secret source scheme reaps rewards
- Cyber infidelity creeping out of virtual domain
- No sweat! Book a taxi while on Metro
- Last minute ID rush is on
Community Reports
-
Mirror, mirror show me the way
Driver on Salam Street had so many boxes and fruits piled into car, he would not be able to view rear or right side mirrors
-
Parents should be more vigilant
Reader's picture highlights risk of negligence by caretakers
-
Warming up to ‘Mobilise the Earth' theme
Dubai school dedicates a whole week to celebrating Earth Day with can-collection drives, sapling plantation and painting competition among others
-
Drivers using mobiles put others' lives at risk
Speeding is dangerous for the driver and other motorists
