By Samsideen Ceesay
Africa Relief Response and Development Organization (ARRDO), a community and development organization with funding from Orphans in Need and Muslim Aid based in United Kingdom, has recently given out food packs to over one hundred needy Muslims in the observance of the Holy month of Ramadan.
The donated items included: rice, beans, onions, oil, sugar and dates to more than one hundred needy families at the organization office in Bakau.
Ansuman Dibba, the Coordinator of ARRDO, speaking at the presentation said Muslim Aid UK is a charity and development organization and that they are a partner to ARRDO since 2013, adding that the distribution of the food packs targets needy families and orphans.
He added: “Muslim Aid is providing Iftarr to six hundred people and one hundred people are provided with food packs. The event is annual. I thank Muslim Aid UK for the donation.”
Mr. Dibba further added that “Muslim Aid is also sponsoring fifty (50) students on annual basis, while stressing that the charitable organization is giving out 360 pounds annually to them which is meant to pay the school fees of the children.
“The balance is given to the parents in a monthly basis and they normally make savings for the children.
“The donors provide them with Ramadan gifts. We usually take them to the market ask them what they need and then buy it for them and give it to them.”
Ms. Amie Correa, the programme assistant, Orphans in Need (OIN) in the Gambia, said OIN’s aim is to help widows and orphans in the Gambia.
Ms. Correa said: “The food packs donated to the widows will go a long way in reducing the burden on them in the month of Ramadan. The donation has started since last year and I hope this magnanimity will continue in the near future.”
Binta Colley, a beneficiary expressed delight for being donated with the food packs. She described the donation as timely.
