Charity done quietly

In a city where almost everything comes with a price tag, it comes as a breath of fresh air to find a few companies making a difference with little fuss and fanfare. My interest in Ansar Gallery, Karama, was initially piqued by positive word-of-mouth reviews about a food donation box in the mall.

Having opened only last year, the shopping centre on Khalid Bin Al Waleed Road is already popular among neighbourhood regulars who come not only to do their grocery shopping but also in search of electronics, household appliances and soft furnishings.

Location

After numerous attempts and having almost given up on finding the elusive box, a helpful attendant at the customer service desk tells me that what I’m looking for is ironically located right at the main entrance.

To say I was impressed would be an understatement. Efficiently organised, the donation station comprises a small refrigerator that contains small bottled juices and water, and on either side are neat shelves with dry goods, including bread, tinned beans, noodles, pasta, lentils and tuna.

I was told the initiative was conceived by Ansar Gallery’s Iranian chairman, Ali Akbar Shaikh Ali, during Ramadan last year. With the positive response from the less privileged and donors, Ali decided to institutionalise the campaign at all three branches of the mall — in Karama, Deira and Sharjah.

Food items

The stock is replenished three times a day and the nature of items stocked reflects the cultural majority of the patrons that frequent a particular branch. The Karama branch, for example, offers items such as noodles that are more popular with an Asian population, while Deira sees more Arab customers and preference is given to lentils and bread.

A notice tells people not to take more than one of each item, although nobody monitors what is being taken. The project operates on an unwritten code of honour, and partakers of the food aid don’t seem to misuse the mall’s kindness.

The mall management enforces strict health regulations, so individuals or organisations that want to contribute have to purchase items from shops in the mall to ensure that the products are not expired. Dry foodstuffs are encouraged.

What strikes me most about this concept is how charity is possibly done best when it is done quietly.