A month-long effort to collect non-perishable food items to benefit local food banks in celebration of Ramadan saw many communities coming together.
The food drive, organized by the Ismaili Muslim Community, concluded with a celebration at Richmond Food Bank on Monday.
"Food drives like these help us further our cause to serve more people. You all embody the true spirit of Ramadan, so thank you very much." said Richmond Food Bank Society executive director, Hajira Hussein, at the event.
More than 8,000 lbs of food and $2,000 were collected from places of worship and Save-On Foods locations across the Lower Mainland with help from Save-On foods, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, St. Monica's Roman Catholic Parish and Az-Zahraa Islamic Center.
Five different local food banks, including the Richmond Food Bank, benefited from the initiative.
"Through the month of Ramadan, Muslims across the world, not only fast, but also use this time to give back to communities in which they live in," said Farouq Manji, Ismaili Council of BC spokesperson.
"The Ismaili community puts this in action through an initiative call Ismaili CIVIC, exemplifying Islam's core values of peace, generosity, compassion and care for those in need."
