In the Hustle, an Athlone-based non-profit organisation (NPO) is calling on the support of locals in providing their annual Ramadaan offerings.
Founded in 2019 by husband and wife team Rashied and Rafiqa Edries, they have grown to meet the need of the communities they serve.
“What started off as just one pot of 100 litres food per month grew to eight, sometimes 10 pots of food. Wherever we went to distribute, there were recipients that always said “julle moet daar by ons oek kom” and from there we started eventually distributing cooked foods in different areas. After some time we also started doing food parcels whenever support was forthcoming,” says Rafiqa.
The organisation distributes in the greater Athlone area, Tafelsig, Hanover Park, Pooke se Bos informal settlement, Kewtown, Kalksteenfontien and others.
During the month of Ramadaan, Muslims are obligated to pay Sadaqat-ul-Fitr – an obligatory charity for every Muslim who possesses the Nisab (a minimum amount of wealth) and it must be paid before Eid-ul-Fitr.
The organisation accepts Fidya as well, toward their feeding fund.
The Feeding Fund uses the Sadaqat-ul-Fitr donations to provide food parcels and cooked meals for the less fortunate.
“Donors can pay whatever amount they deem correct based on their locality and commodities of choice (such as wheat, barley, rice, raisins, dates, etc.) – just as the Sadaqat-ul-Fitr was paid using different commodities which had varying costs and values for each type in the time of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The Feeding Fund distributes several thousand dry ration packages to poor families on behalf of our donors under the Sadaqat-ul-Fitr project each year,” says Rafiqa.
Including their work in feeding residents a warm cooked meal, they also last year assisted 13 families of all faiths with food for the funerals of less fortunate residents. They have done the same for another three families this year.
“In 2022, during the Ramadaan period, we managed 10 food parcels per week and two pots of food every weekend. One pot would feed 200 people. The last weekend of the 2022 fast, we had our annual mass boeka which fed 300 people with meals to breakfast on the day,” she says.
Their goal this year is to distribute seven food parcels per day to help less fortunate families have something on their tables, to break their fast with.
“This year, we will invite 250 pensioners, of whom we treat to free facials, hair cuts, mhendi and a little gift pack. This Pensioners’ Pamper day is followed by a mass boeka, where we cater to the pensioners and have their families join them,” she says.
Outside of the Ramadaan programme, they also host an annual orphanage outing, where an orphanage is selected and the whole group is taken out on a day outing to the Iziko Museum, starting with a packed breakfast and ending with lunch.
“We also have our June 16 Youth Day programme, where we invite three different orphanages and treat them to a day of eatery, games and entertainment. During the day they are also giving motivational talks by different speakers from within our communities,” she says.
Other projects run throughout the year including a Christmas drive.
- To donate or for more information, WhatsApp 060 823 5514 or email info@inthehustle.org
