The Emirates Food Bank distributes 8.2 million meals as part of its Ramadan campaign "Al-Khair Bank in the month of goodness"

DUBAI, 30 APRIL / WAM / The Emirates Food Bank – one of the global initiatives of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum – announced the distribution of 8.2 million meals as part of its campaign for the holy month of Ramadan, “The Bank of Goodness in the Month of Giving”, which aimed to provide eight million meals and deliver them to those eligible inside and outside the country during the holy month, through 5 Ramadan initiatives, which included; “Al Khair Refrigerator”, “My Home Without Waste”, “Mir Al Khair”, and “Zabeel Breakfast”, in addition to “Recycle, Relife”, as part of an integrated system for managing surplus food according to sustainable institutional standards.

About 7.3 million individuals benefited from the meals distributed inside and outside the country, including about 1,368,000 families and more than 500,000 workers, while the number of volunteers reached about 6,645 volunteers.

As part of the campaign’s objectives, the Bank concluded 12 new partnerships to support its work, and attracted more than 215 donor institutions and companies that donated food supplies, in addition to implementing 80 awareness programs.

In a related context, the bank achieved an environmental and economic impact by diverting about 4,620,000 surplus cooked meals and food parcels from landfill, which contributed to reducing more than 4,693,000 kilograms of carbon emissions, equivalent to preserving 195,583 trees.

The campaign focused on expanding the circle of beneficiaries locally and globally, strengthening partnerships with government and private agencies to manage surplus food, in addition to establishing sustainability practices, reducing waste, and encouraging volunteer work and social responsibility.

Manal Bin Yarouf, Head of the Executive Team at the Emirates Food Bank, said: “The results of the Al Khair Bank campaign in the Month of Giving reinforce the purposeful approach on which the Emirates Food Bank was founded, to be a sustainable humanitarian and charitable system that enhances the values ​​of giving, and reduces food waste by managing its surplus and delivering it to those who deserve it with high quality, thus consolidating the position of the UAE and Dubai in charitable and humanitarian work, and reflecting the unique values ​​that Emirati society holds of giving and solidarity.

She added: “Our efforts and campaigns are continuing to support global efforts to reduce hunger, create a tangible and sustainable positive impact on the lives of communities, and keep pace with national trends to enhance food security, in addition to supporting the circular economy, and reducing food waste and carbon emissions.”

Al Khair refrigerator.

Through the “Goodness Fridge”, the bank provided 25 refrigerators in residential neighborhoods and a number of schools in coordination with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai, benefiting 495,677 individuals, as the initiative contributed to facilitating the donation of surplus food in an organized and safe manner, in a way that enhances the values ​​of solidarity and preserving blessings in a sustainable manner.

The “Mir Al Khair” initiative reached 6,843,544 individuals who benefited from food parcels containing basic materials. The initiative contributed to meeting daily needs and enhancing food stability with the participation of partners and volunteers, thus reflecting the values ​​of social solidarity and compassion that the bank holds dear.

As part of the Iftar initiatives, the bank organized the Zabeel Iftar initiative, which is a group breakfast targeting 5,000 workers, embodying the values ​​of compassion and community solidarity and reflecting the spirit of the holy month in a humanitarian atmosphere that enhanced the culture of giving and social responsibility.

Within the framework of enhancing sustainability and social responsibility, the Emirates Food Bank cooperated with the National Initiative to Reduce Food Loss and Waste, “Naama”, within the “Recycle, Relife” initiative, with the aim of enhancing the efficiency of managing surplus food, diverting it from landfill, supporting the circular economy, and reducing carbon emissions resulting from organic waste.

Through the initiative, the bank succeeded in rescuing about 1.4 million kilograms of surplus food or products close to expiration from the food service sector and retailers, to be redistributed and food delivered to the largest number of eligible groups, in addition to raising community awareness to reach zero food waste.

The efforts included collecting leftover food and usable food from 87 hotels, an increase of 142% over previous years. Food that was not fit for consumption was converted into organic agricultural fertilizer in coordination with the “Reloop” application of the company (Ecyclex), where about 364,863 kilograms of food waste were collected and diverted away from landfills.

The recycling operations contributed to the production of 72,973 kilograms of organic fertilizer, which benefited local farmers, and reduced the emission of approximately 926,753 tons of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide), equivalent to planting 38,615 trees.

The “Naama” initiative confirmed its continued work to develop a possible environment and an integrated and effective system that contributes to achieving the goals of reducing food loss and waste and enhancing sustainability in the UAE.

The “My Home Without Waste” initiative represents one of the awareness initiatives that aims to promote the culture of preserving grace and exploiting surplus food, by broadcasting guidance and awareness messages by influencers, to direct society to reduce food waste, support sustainability and promote responsible consumption patterns.

It also focused on the target groups of housewives, working women, domestic workers, and in general citizens and residents in different age groups.

The campaign confirms the Emirates Food Bank’s commitment to expanding its strategic partnerships, enhancing community awareness of the culture of preserving grace, and enabling individuals to participate in volunteer work, in a way that supports sustainable development and achieves a continuing humanitarian impact.

The campaign focuses on developing an integrated operational system for managing surplus food, based on effective partnerships and community participation, which increases the efficiency of food distribution, reduces food waste, and supports the goals of environmental sustainability.

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