Donations pour in for ‘10 million meals’ campaign

Imran Mojib, Special Correspondent

Donations poured in for the ’10 million meals’ campaign within a few days of its launch with philanthropists providing in-kind contributions through the call centre to support coronavirus-hit communities in UAE.

The ‘10 million meals’ campaign, launched on Sunday, enables individuals and institutions to make financial and in-kind donations towards providing meals and food parcels to individuals and families affected by the coronavirus spread throughout the holy month of Ramadan.

The call centre, open for in-kind donations, received an overwhelming number of contributions included an outstanding 250,000 meals made by four people within the first few days of the launch.

The four donors provided meals on separate calls amounting to 120,000 meals for Dhs1million; 65,000 meals for Dhs520,000; 40,000 meals for Dhs320,000 and 25,000 meals for Dhs200,000. Another donor gave two tonnes of apples to be added to meals distributed to low-income families and individuals across the UAE.

The ‘10 million meals’ campaign enables entities, companies, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, as well as the general public to purchase a number of meals online or donate packaged and canned food supplies to be distributed to disadvantaged families and individuals from different nationalities living across the UAE.

The ‘10 million meals’ campaign, overseen by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives and the Social Solidarity Fund Against Covid-19, will be implemented in collaboration with ministries, federal and local entities and humanitarian and charitable organisations in the UAE.

The executing entities will operate within a comprehensive and wide-ranging distribution network to ensure efficient food delivery mechanism across the country.

For in-kind contributions, donors have the chance to provide packaged or canned food supplies or arrange food parcels for distribution through directly contacting the campaign’s organizing team on the toll-free number 8004006.

Individuals and entities can make financial or in-kind donations to provide food assistance to people in need as part of the ’10 million meals’ campaign.

Donors can purchase a preferred number of meals online at www.10millionmeals.ae to be distributed to disadvantaged individuals and families across the country. They can also donate via SMS (Etisalat and Du) to numbers listed on the website.

Donors can make a transfer to ‘10 million meals’ campaign bank account at Dubai Islamic Bank with IBAN no.:AE430240001580857000001.

Emirates Islamic announced the donation of Dhs5 million to provide 625,000 meals to the UAE’s biggest distribution drive. In a statement, Emirates Islamic stressed on the social solidarity and cohesion of the UAE society that the ‘10 million meals’ campaign has revealed since its launch over the past few days.

Liberty Dental Clinic announced donating 12,000 meals, worth Dhs100,000 to the UAE’s biggest food distribution drive that aims to support communities affected by the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

Dr. Majd Naji, Chairman of Liberty Dental Clinic, said, “The global crisis we are currently witnessing has driven millions of people to unemployment and hunger across the world. It is the role of each and every financially capable individual and entity in the UAE to lend a helping hand for everyone in need.”

The UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia UAE) has donated 10 million water bottles, worth Dhs5 million, to be distributed with meals in the UAE’s biggest food distribution drive. In collaboration with Mai Dubai, the donation supports the ‘10 million meals’ campaign.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia), said that the campaign proves the UAE’s commitment to safeguarding its citizens and residents through ensuring a decent life to the vulnerable. These difficult times reveal our true values of generosity and humanity.”

Al Sayyah & Sons Investment has donated 250,000 meals, worth Dhs2 million, to the drive. Marwan Al Sayyah, Executive Vice Chairman at Al Sayyah & Sons Investment, said that the ‘10 million meals’ campaign reflect the UAE’s values cemented in less than half a century since its foundation to become a global model of tolerance and coexistence.