Hamilton charity gives boxes of food to hundreds of families for Ramadan

The month of Ramadan might get a little easier for hundreds of local families who received food donations from a Hamilton charity this weekend. 

Mishka Social Services, which focuses on supporting the Muslim community, partnered with non-profit Muslim Hands Canada and Mountain grocery store Eastern Food Market to distribute boxes to families in need on Saturday and Sunday. They estimated they served around 600 families. 

"These food hampers give families a sense of dignity and support during a time when expenses are high and resources are limited," Marwa Farghaly, an executive assistant with Mishka said. 

"Food is a basic human right and together, we can make sure that no one in our community goes hungry, especially at this time of year," Farghaly said. 

For many Muslims, Ramadan is a time of charity, but for those struggling to make ends meet, things might feel "even harder," said Maryam Qader, Mishka's volunteer engagement coordinator. 

Mishka provides regular food aid throughout the year, though it's never given to so many people at once. "The need is there," Qader said. 

The organization offers a guarantee that food will be culturally appropriate. For example, Qader said, it makes sure meat is halal. Food hampers packed this weekend included lentils, rice, canned tomatoes, sugar, salt, oils and spices. 

Starting around 7 a.m. on Saturday, volunteers met at the Hamilton Downtown Mosque, where they unloaded a truck-full of supplies. Working like an assembly line, people set up boxes and filled them to go.

Qader said about 30 to 40 community members volunteered in response to a call out. "It's been very exciting," she said, adding the mosque's community hall became "very noisy" as people got to know one another throughout the day.

Families who picked up food boxes showed "a lot of excitement," she said, adding the hope is they can make a few meals with what they received.

Newcomers and immigrants often arrive with few resources then they have to deal with the pressures of finding work and housing in an unfamiliar place, Farghaly said. "I have seen first-hand how difficult it is."

Local food providers have told CBC Hamilton food bank use is widening and more people are accessing them for the first time. 

Anecdotally, Farghaly said she's seen the number of people requesting help from Mishka increase in the year she's worked there.

With that in mind, she said she's "feeling great" about what Mishka was able to achieve this weekend.