The month of Ramadan is all about sharing, giving and togetherness. Keeping with the spirit, a small group of like-minded women came together and distributed doughnuts to around 400 workers on June 11.
From December 2016 to March 2017, Gulf News ran a promotion. On every renewal or new subscription, readers were given vouchers worth Dh400. Among these was a Dh50 voucher for Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Each voucher could get you a dozen doughnuts for free.
A casual chat amongst friends lead to talk regarding these vouchers, which had to be redeemed by June 30.
Bindu Krishnan, a homemaker and former librarian suggested: “Why can’t we get the doughnuts and give them to labourers instead of using it for ourselves?”
Quick as lightning, the idea gathered momentum. WhatsApp messages were sent across groups and in no time, we were inundated with Gulf News vouchers.
Lulua Ahsan, a homemaker who has been passionately involved in the ‘Ramadan Sharing Fridges’ initiative, got in touch with Swati Santosh, the manager for the Mankhool fridge and finalised the programme.
Santhosh said: “It is amazing to see how people from different cultures and nationalities work together. Donating vouchers is particularly beneficial to people who do not have the time to physically come and be a part of this great initiative. Together we all try to make a difference in one way or the other.”
Ahsan said: “Ramadan is the month to reflect and retrospect. It is the time to count our blessings and share it with others and give back to society. Ramadan Sharing Fridges is a simple way to show our love and gratitude towards our fellow city dwellers. But, as soon as the doughnut idea was suggested, 50 people came forward to be a part of this generous drive, too! My children were enthused to see their favourite doughnuts as part of the iftar meal packets.”
Twenty five volunteers, including a few enthusiastic children who had willingly given away their favourite snack, gathered on June 11 for the task. Our initiative was clubbed with that of the Ramadan Sharing Fridges. So, we started packing the doughnuts along with a few other goodies, such as biscuits, dates, laban. Some of the people in the group did not have voucher, so they donated Dh50 each, which was used to purchase the laban.
At 5pm, the labourers began coming into the parking lot of a residential building in Bur Dubai, where a Ramadan Sharing Fridge has been placed, and we started the distribution.
The drive went on for one hour, with the little ones taking centre stage, happily handing over a goody bag to each of the workers. A total of 700 doughnuts were given away!
The joy on the workers’ faces reflected the truth in the saying, ‘philanthropy is the only act where the giver gets more than the receiver – in the form of joy and fulfilment’. Thank you Gulf News for the gift vouchers, through which we all got an opportunity to be a part of this noble initiative.
Bindu Krishnan who came up with this brilliant idea said: “Just as small drops of water make an ocean, small acts of kindness will go a long way in making our troubled world a better place to live in.”
I’m doing my bit ... are you?
— The reader is homemaker based in Dubai.
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