Following the success of their Ramadan Sharing Fridge, which has given out as many as 1,200 iftar packs a night during the holy month, one Dubai community is now taking donations to put together Eid packs for the workers that they have fed this Ramadan.
Kelly Harvarde and her community of neighbours are planning to give the packs out to those in need as a gesture of goodwill this Eid Al Fitr.
"Eid is a time for celebration, so we want to give our fridge visitors a treat to mark the occasion," Harvarde told The National. "It's also a lovely way to end Ramadan. We've known some of our visitors for years."
What goes into an Eid pack?
The packs that the Jumeirah 1 community are putting together are made up of hygiene supplies. Suggested donations include razors, shaving foam, toothpaste, tooth brushes, mouthwash and bars of soap.
Other communities bring together similar packs, which include food and drink, such as dates, cookies, chocolates and juice.
To donate, contact the person running your nearest fridge to see if they are collecting for Eid packs, search the Ramadan/Sharing Fridges in the UAE Facebook group or reach out to Havarde directly though Instagram at www.instagram.com/kellyharvarde.
A community effort
The National met Havarde and her community half way though Ramadan, when they were handing out 700 to 800 packs per night. That has since gone up to over 1,200 visitors to their fridge for iftar packs per evening. They will continue handing out iftar packs until the end of the holy month.
"The success of our fridge has made me feel immensely proud, proud of our amazing community and so grateful for the hundreds or people who have helped us with their time and donations," Havarde said when asked about the success of her community's effort this Ramadan.
Adding: "I'm also so happy that we could help so many people and show the hard working people who care for this city that we see them and we care about them. They work so hard, throughout the summer, in the heat – this is the very least that we can do for them."
