One hundred and fifty parents, neighbours and community members received food parcels from Lace Up for Change last week.
The group received the food parcels, funded by the Kuwait Awqaf Public Foundation, on Wednesday May 5 at Darul Arqam Islamic High School in Eastridge.
Chairman of Lace Up for Change and former Portland resident, Faizel Jacobs, who now lives in Kenwyn, said they donated 150 food parcels.
“It is also a great honour to be recognised for our work, to reach out and bestow this responsibility. We are proud of the team for their hard work,” said Mr Jacobs.
Vice-chairman Irafaan Abrahams said Darul Arqam had been chosen as the host school of the food parcel ceremony, in acknowledgment of their 100% matric pass rate. “There is a bigger need, not only in the classroom but in the greater community,” said Mr Abrahams.
Bursar at Darul Arqam, Shamiela Abrahams said their school was very grateful to those involved in making the food parcel ceremony possible.
“Thank you to Lace Up for Change for choosing our school. A lot of people are struggling in the community but we were blessed and happy for taking the load off and making things a little easier for the community,” said Ms Abrahams.
They feed the community every week, they involve the community as much as they can. “It was emotional and touching. Our principal Sheik Ebrahim Dawood is also grateful for the gesture. This is part of our 100% matric pass rate. We were able to feed our pupils daily during their study time with us,” she said.
They hope to have more donors “open their hearts and assist them with feeding the pupils and community, we really are a beacon of hope in the area,” said Ms Abrahams.
The person who made it all possible was the former Consul-General of South Africa to Saudi Arabia, Cassim Peer.
Chairperson of the Gordon’s Bay Islamic Society, Mr Peer, was appointed by the embassy of Kuwait to distribute the food parcels to an underprivileged community, during the month of Ramadaan.
“We partnered with Lace Up for Change, we put our efforts together and got the food parcels for the community. The process went smoothly and we hope the food parcels helped and assisted them with their needs,” said Mr Peer.
Great-grandmother, Rachmat Ismail, 69, from Eastridge said the food parcel could not have come at a better time. Her 42-year-old son, she said, had suffered a heart attack at home.
“This food parcel made such a difference in my home. It really will assist us during lockdown and the remainder of Ramadaan,” she said.
Gadija Toffar, 66, of Beacon Valley, who is the grandmother of Darul Arqam pupil, Aakifah Toffar, 13, attended the ceremony.
“It was encouraging to sit in the ceremony. During these times it is hard, receiving the food parcel lifted my spirit and gave me hope that we would make it through this time. This is helping a lot during this time,” said Ms Toffar.
Another recipient, Rudeah Kallis, said she was blessed to have received the food parcel. “Thank you to everyone who donated towards the food parcel, during this time. We didn’t expect it but we were grateful for it,” said Ms Kallis.
