THE BROMSGROVE Muslim Community Trust has donated items to the Bromsgrove Foodbank to give vulnerable and needy residents across the district a helping hand over the festive season.
Representatives from the group handed over milk, pasta, sugar, rice and toiletries on Friday (December 18).
The Chairman of the trust Dr Waqar Azmi OBE said: “We’re delighted to be donating to Bromsgrove’s NewStarts foodbank as no one should go hungry this Christmas.
“People turn to foodbanks when they are often penniless, have not eaten for some while and have exhausted themselves and all their normal sources of assistance.
“We must now recognise that there are some real issues of food poverty in our country and we must turn our attention here.
“It’s not a problem that’s going away until some of the wider economic issues change.
“You don’t always see it but you know poverty is out there and it’s heart-breaking.
“Single mothers who can’t afford food for their child or someone walking miles to get to a food bank whilst others on part-time or on zero-hour contracts are struggling to get hot food and pay all the bills.”
He added it was a little known fact that it was a compulsory requirement for all Muslims to give 2.5 per cent of their wealth each year to the less fortunate as well as give Sadaqah (voluntary) donations regularly.
And he said everyone had a responsibility towards people of all faiths and no faith to ensure those in poverty were given the assistance they needed.
