ISLAMIC Relief UK and Blackhall Mosque will release more than 500 food packages to vulnerable people in Edinburgh.
These food packages will go to the homeless, asylum seekers, refugees and women suffering domestic abuse and will provide 30 essential items, such as rice, pasta and beans.
Islamic Relief UK, founded in 1984, is an independent organisation that provides emergency charity to those in need in the UK and beyond.
Nadeem Baqir, regional community fundraising manager for Islamic Relief UK, said: “We are proud to be working with Blackhall Mosque to reach out to some of the most vulnerable people in Scotland.
“The mosque plays an important role in the community and has been a lifeline for many people.
“With the high cost of living and the pandemic, we have seen families struggle to pay for just the essentials such as food and warmth and many have had to resort to food banks.
“This winter, the work of Blackhall Mosque will make a huge difference to many families and we thank them for their amazing efforts to help those in need.”
This scheme comes after the Poverty and Inequality Commission reported one in four children and one in five adults are living in poverty.
Scotland’s poverty levels have risen considerably during the pandemic, with eating and heating being top priority.
Blackhall Mosque is an Edinburgh-based charity that works with the Muslim community to promote the welfare and inclusion of Scottish Muslims.
Imam Sohail Ashqaue of the mosque said: “We begin by thanking Allah SWT (God) for giving us all the opportunity to serve his creation.
“Indeed this is a blessing as we work with Islamic Relief UK to deliver 500 food packs to families who have been struggling to feed themselves this winter.
“We would like to thank all the volunteers who will help make this happen and we look forward to continuing this great partnership with Islamic Relief UK to ensure the most vulnerable in our community receive the support they require.
“We are glad to be helping those in Edinburgh as part of a wider distribution by Islamic Relief UK and partners that are taking place across the UK.
“With rising utility bills and many businesses not recovering from the pandemic, many people are facing huge insecurity towards their future.
"The hardship that many families and individuals are dealing with right now is unimaginable, and this distribution will go a long way to help alleviate that.”
Islamic Relief UK is also partnering with other charities across the UK to distribute more food parcels.
The scheme launches on January 23.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel