A program initiated by the community youths in 1998 to feed 12 families for a week, has Alhamdulillah, evolved through the years that now caters for more than 500 families for an entire month- a 17 fold rise in 12 years. All this has been possible because of the dedication and commitment of volunteers and the generosity of the members.

Jamaat requests members to share any pictures or information on Ramadhan Campaign Against Hunger (RCAH) from the past years. Thank you. 

The Article is extracted from Jaffari News (June 1999)

Editor; Sr Mahjabeen (Jaffer) Yusufali

Jaffari Islamic Youth’s 2nd Annual Ramadhan Campaign Against Hunger (RCAH)

By: Aly Sheraly

This past Ramadhan, The Jafari Islamic Youth (JIY) organized our second Annual Ramadhan Campaign Against Hunger. Similar to the first campaign, the objective was to collect non-perishable food items at the Bayview Mosque, and distribute these to needy Muslim families in the Greater Toronto Area. Last year, through the efforts of the community, the JIY was able to collect enough food for 12 families to feed them for one week.  In addition, non-perishable food was donated to the Muslim Food bank and funds collected were used to support a school breakfast program at a school with a predominately Muslim population.

This Ramadhan, the organizing committee raised its expectations. The objective was to feed 15 needy Muslim families with one week’s worth of groceries. Initially, the response by the community was encouraging. However, by the 19th night of Ramadhan, only enough food to feed 3 families had been collected. Appealing to the community’s generosity and compassion and citing examples of the sacrifices of the Ahlul-Bayt(as) towards those less fortunate, the JIY increased its efforts to create Campaign awareness.  The community’s response was overwhelming. By the end of Ramadhan enough food had been collected to feed 16 families for almost one month! Moreover, enough money was collected to support, once again, a school breakfast program at a school with a high Muslim population: a large contribution was also made to the Muslim Food bank. Alhamdulillah, the committee’s expectations were exceeded.

As an organizer and participant in this campaign, I found the experience spiritually rewarding. Although coordinating an effort of this size may have been difficult, the expressions of gratitude from the families when delivering the food was heart-warming and worth all the hard work.  I saw firsthand what kind of conditions our fellow needy Muslim brothers and sisters live in.  Many have large families, yet live in small quarters. Many are without employment and they do not take for granted, the daily luxuries that we are accustomed to, such as a car, or a cupboard full of food (and we still complain that there is nothing to eat in the house).

By witnessing the hardships of others, one gains perspective as to how insignificant our petty day-to-day problems really are.  Thankfully, as Muslims we are prescribed to help the less fortunate.  Furthermore, it is a blessing from Allah (swt) that fasting during the month of Ramadhan is compulsory. It teaches us humility, discipline and the fragility of our own existence.  It gives us a sense of duty and responsibility to those less fortunate. It demands that we think of others rather than ourselves.

The success of this campaign could not have been attained without the generosity of the community and the dedication of volunteers. May Allah (swt) reward you for your good deeds.  Insha’Allah with the community’s support, our 3rd campaign next year, will be just as successful.  Please make it a point, in future, to keep supporting these youth initiatives with enthusiasm and vigour.