Manama: Up to 10,000 food parcels will be collected from ma’tams (community centres) and food stalls in Manama during a forthcoming religious festival.
Volunteers have been trained by the Capital Trustees Board and Authority to collect donations of uneaten food, repackage it and hand it out the same night to those less fortunate during Ashoora.
The scheme was announced yesterday at a meeting of the Capital Trustees Board in Manama.
Ashoora, which runs for the first 10 days of the Islamic New Year, is expected to start next Wednesday or Thursday depending on the moon sighting.
It commemorates the anniversary of the death of Imam Hussain, grandson of Prophet Mohammed, and rituals include processions through villages across Bahrain, as well as in the heart of Manama suq.
“We will work with the Tadbeer (Conservation Management) Campaign, which will supervise collection and distribution, while we will help gather volunteers from ma’tams and licensed food stalls to help us in the process,” said Gulf City Cleaning Company (GCCC) public relations officer Hesham Al Haddad.
“Our initial target is to collect at least 5,000 parcels and up to 10,000 throughout the 10 days, from 171 ma’tams across the Capital Governorate – 62 of which are in the Manama processions area.
“All parcels will be collected by special vehicles provided by our company, since we have easier access to locations than Tadbeer volunteers who will have to find parking far away.”
He added a special hotline would be launched next week when all Ashoora activities are revealed.
“We have a team of four volunteers who will go around ma’tams, with our target being 16 ma’tams per day, to raise awareness about food conservation and the scheme.
“We are targeting at least 70 places in the 10 days.
“Large loads of leftovers will be distributed to the needy, both locals and expatriates, in Manama within an hour of collection.”
Mr Al Haddad vowed that no spoilt food would be distributed. “As there are volunteers for collection and distribution, a sorting team will divide the food into parcels and pack it,” he said.
“Ma’atams are so supportive to the scheme that they have offered drinks to go with the meals.”
Meanwhile, Capital Trustees Board chairman Mohammed Al Khozaie said GCCC would be involved in clean-up operations round the clock.
“We have allocated a special car park for the company’s vehicles and divided cleaners across locations round the clock to provide services non-stop,” he said.
“(These include) two vehicles with a capacity of 25 cubic metres and two other vehicles with a capacity of seven cubic metres, two vehicles for sweeping and 200 dumpsters, besides regular vehicles.”
Capital Trustees Board public relations and information committee chairwoman Dr Maram Al Sharbati said a number of educational, cultural and awareness programmes and activities would be available for people of all ages during Ashoora.
“We have a special centre that will hold workshops on protecting the environment and neighbourhoods, according to age ranges, throughout Ashoora with us distributing special leaflets and flyers on the importance of cleanliness.”
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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