Dubai: Dubai Municipality and the UAE Food Bank have launched a community initiative to help residents deliver their food donations for free to UAE Food Bank fridges this Ramadan.
The entities have partnered with logistics company Careem for food collection and delivery services during Ramadan and on specific days, said a press release issued on Sunday.
The company will collect surplus food from individuals or establishments and deliver it to the nearest UAE Food Bank fridges distributed around Dubai.
“Individuals will be able to download the Careem App to submit the request to donate surplus food,” said Khalid Mohammad Sharif Al Awadhi, assistant director general of Dubai Municipality for Environment, Health and Safety Control Sector
“On receiving the online request, Careem’s delivery boys will come to the doorstep of the person who donates the food and receive the food and deliver it to the nearest fridge of the Food Bank thus achieving the principle of giving and social solidarity and strengthen the role of society in helping others,” he said.
As per the agreement, the service will be available from 2pm to 9pm from Thursday to Saturday. Seventy motorcycles have been allocated to receive and deliver food in accordance with the food safety standards and requirements, which should be adhered to from the time of receipt of food to the completion of delivery, the release said.
Through the initiative, Al Awadhi pointed out that surplus food will be collected from individuals and the organisations and distributed to the needy, which will help in a big way to reduce the food wastage in the UAE which is estimated to cost about Dh13 billion.
