Organisers now providing one million pieces of fruit for the 10 Million Meals campaign
Dubai: Over 4,000 plates of fruit were sent daily to Al Ras and other areas of Dubai during the movement restrictions by The Fruit and Vegetable Traders Group, Under the Umbrella of Dubai Chambers.
The initiative was supported by Dubai Health Authority (DHA) as well as the charity organisation, Dar Al Ber Society.
Essa Khoury, Board member of Fruit and Vegetable Traders Group and Managing Director of Mirak, said, “We started the initiative when the restrictions began in Al Ras area. We provided plates that included five different types of fruit. Almost all of the work was inhouse with our existing employees doing the packaging. DHA and Dar Al Ber, were helping us distribute the plates to the people in Al Ras and then in Warsan as well. DHA would inform us if there were areas that may need more supply and we would provide the fruits.”
The board member of groups discusses the encouraging reactions that this initiative received, “The people were really happy. Although we are not directly interacting with them, the overall feedback we’re getting is very positive. It’s great that they’re getting meals and also getting some fruit.”
The Fruit and Vegetable Traders Group includes nine major fruit and vegetable traders in the country. The groups began with 500 daily fruit plates and increased gradually to 4,000 plates. When the restrictions were lifted in Al Ras areas, the group reduced the number of plates delivered.
There was an abundance of food donations in the areas and the board member says, “Let’s say an area needed 10,000 meals, the food donated was over 15,000, so there was always more than needed. We didn’t want the fruit plates to go to waste of course, so that is why we focused on other areas such as Warsan.”
‘1 million pieces of fruit’ initiative
Another initiative that is in the works by the Fruit and Vegetable Traders Group is the ‘1 million pieces of fruit’ that shall go into effect during the Holy Month of Ramadan as a support to the ‘10 million meals’ initiative in the UAE.
The ‘10 million meals’ campaign led by Shaikha Hind Bint Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of UAE Food Bank, provides food support for communities affected by the coronavirus pandemic in the UAE.
Khoury discusses the initiative that the group has been inspired to do, “We’re participating in the 10 million meals campaign. The aim behind our participation is to collaborate with the existing initiative by providing 1 million pieces of fruits from our end. We’re hoping that the recipients of the 10 million meals initiative will benefit from getting some fruit with their meals.”
“Our leaders have encouraged us to always work together in all endeavors. The more you give to the community, one day the community will give back. Ramadan is the month of giving and this is only a small part of what we can contribute and give back to the country.”
