Give30 Waterloo Region is back this Ramadan to continue addressing food insecurity in our community.

04
May

2019

Give30 Waterloo Region Welcomes Ramadan and Brings New Partners on Board to Fight Hunger

Written by Give 30

Published in News

Give30 Waterloo Region is back this Ramadan to continue addressing food insecurity in our community. Give30 WR has raised over $30,000.00 in the past two years of its inception for The Food Bank of Waterloo Region!

“We are amazed each year by the generosity of this community to support this campaign to fight hunger. We are very excited to have added three more community partners and to have expanded to Cambridge! This year, more schools will also be joining the campaign by running food drives, building on last year’s youth led initiative. We hope to continue the success as we welcome Ramadan this year.” said Fauzia Baig, Vice Chair for the Coalition of Muslim Women of KW (CMW).

Ramadan is about mindfulness, giving, building community, and understanding the challenges of hunger that others face. This is why the Give30 is effective! It's a simple way for people who are fasting to save the money that they would otherwise spend on coffee,lunches or other treats, and donate that money to the Food Bank.

Ziyaad Mia, the founder of the Give30 campaign, says: “People who aren’t fasting can also take part by brown bagging lunches for the month and donating the saved money to the Food Bank. Everyone can participate in the spirit of Ramadan! Hunger knows no race, religion, ethnicity or creed, and that’s why it’s important for everyone to join Give30.”

“The reality is hunger can happen to anyone at any time and for a variety of reasons, including: sudden job loss, unexpected expenses, medical costs,” said Wendi Campbell, CEO, The Food Bank of Waterloo Region. “Every day in our community people are forced to make unimaginable decisions: buy groceries or pay rent.

In 2019, the Give30 WR team is extremely pleased to announce an expansion of the campaign into Cambridge.

“The Cambridge Self-Help Food is proud to be joining this wonderful campaign,” said Cambridge Self-Help Food Bank Executive Director Cameron Dearlove. “The donations collected during this special time of year will go towards helping those in our community who struggle with food insecurity. Give 30 is a great example of the community coming together to support their neighbours in need.”

The Coalition of Muslim Women (CMW), along with the Give30 WR team including Islamic Humanitarian Services, Muslim Social Services of Kitchener-Waterloo, Maple Grove School, Muslim Women of Cambridge, Islamic Centre of Cambridge, Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), Canadian Rohingya Development Initiative, Cambridge Food Bank and The Food Bank of Waterloo Region are very excited to bring Give30 back to Waterloo Region this year.

Give 30 operates in Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, the province of Quebec, Mississauga, Ottawa, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Regina, London, Kingston, Waterloo Region, Thunder Bay/NW Ontario, and New York City.

Website: GIVE30.ca Facebook: GIVE30 Twitter: @GIVE_30 #Give30WR

Compassion. Dignity. Unity.

Give 30

Is Give 30 for Muslims only? Most definitely not.

This initiative is about everyone coming together to address a community challenge. Ramadan is an excellent opportunity for all of us to build a more compassionate community.

If you aren't muslim, it's a perfect time to take part in the spirit of compassion, social solidarity and giving that all paths of faith and morality share.

To succeed, Give 30 needs everyone. It begins with you.

While we are fortunate to live in prosperous and wealthy societies, hunger and poverty still poses a challenge for some of our neighbours. I find that stark juxtaposition troubling and unacceptable. Canada, the United States and Australia are amazing countries that offer many of us great opportunities and gifts, but with those gifts and opportunites come responsibilities as well. Each of us can affect change and make a difference in the lives of others, and that can begin right now. Make a donation to the Give 30 Campaign Partner Organization of your choice today and get the word out to your networks encouraging them to do their part too. If you are not able to support Give 30 now please make a positive difference in whatever way you can in your neighbourhood and community.