Food Baskets & Toys: How our English Learning Program Team Celebrated Ramadan This Year

During this holy month of Ramadan, our English Language Program teamed up with the Muslim Welfare Centre to distribute food baskets to our students in need. This is a part of the Project Ramadan initiative by the Muslim Welfare Centre that is dedicated to providing support to local families in need through fundraising and assembling food baskets.

Project Ramadan is entirely led by volunteers (over 6500!). Through key partnerships with food banks women’s shelters, and indigenous communities, thousands of food baskets have been distributed to families, regardless of race, religion, or nationality. These food baskets have items that create healthy and balanced meals:

Since this project launched in 2009, they’ve raised over two million dollars and distributed over 31 600 food baskets. The Muslim Welfare Centre generously gave us 32 food baskets which we happily delivered to 32 of our English Program students! Take a look at some of their words of gratitude below:

“Thank you Muslim group for giving us so many things! Thank you to my teacher for bringing me a lot of food! So many good things!”

While the situation is difficult. Suddenly, there’s someone at Newcomer Women’s Services Toronto gave me some food. When I opened the baskets, I was very surprised. That’s a lot of food in there. I felt very happy. I was very touched by the teacher who brought baskets to my house. Once again, I sincerely thank you. The people who helped me and thank you my teacher ❤.

“God bless kind people who helped me and my son. We couldn’t afford chicken since Christmas”

“Thank you so much for your help. Money is an issue, and I couldn’t buy good food for the family. With this basket, I can feed my kids for a month. I am so grateful that there are such kind and generous people in my life. One day, when I have money, I will be helping those in need. I will never forget this food basket.”

Through this initiative, our teachers learned just how dire the need is for our students while they face food insecurity. Shereen, one of our ELP teachers, decided to take it one step further, and launched a Toy Drive on her social media. With the help of another friend, the two successfully raised $610 and secured 10 unwrapped toys to be gifted to our ELP students’ children. A total of 54 kids aged 0-16 will receive brand new toys!

For Muslims, Ramadan is a holy time to sympathize with those less fortunate, and to give back to the community. Our ELP teachers have perfectly embodied these values this month and we’re so grateful to have them on our team!