The Daily Populous Tuesday March 11st, 2025 day edition
Authored by cbc.ca and submitted by guanaco55

The month of Ramadan might get a little easier for hundreds of local families who received food donations from a Hamilton charity this weekend.

Mishka Social Services, which focuses on supporting the Muslim community, partnered with non-profit Muslim Hands Canada and Mountain grocery store Eastern Food Market to distribute boxes to families in need on Saturday and Sunday. They estimated they served around 600 families.

"These food hampers give families a sense of dignity and support during a time when expenses are high and resources are limited," said Marwa Farghaly, an executive assistant with Mishka.

"Food is a basic human right and together, we can make sure that no one in our community goes hungry, especially at this time of year."

On March 8, about 40 volunteers worked like an assembly line to prepare 300 food boxes for people in need. (Eimaan Shahid)

For many Muslims, Ramadan is a time of charity , but for those struggling to make ends meet, things might feel "even harder," said Maryam Qader, Mishka's volunteer engagement co-ordinator.

Mishka provides regular food aid throughout the year, though it's never given to so many people at once. "The need is there," Qader said.

The organization offers a guarantee that food will be culturally appropriate.

For example, Qader said, it makes sure meat is halal. Food hampers packed this weekend included lentils, rice, canned tomatoes, sugar, salt, oils and spices.

Starting around 7 a.m. ET on Saturday, volunteers met at the Hamilton Downtown Mosque, where they unloaded a truck full of supplies. Working like an assembly line, people set up boxes and filled them to go.

Qader said about 30 to 40 community members volunteered in response to a call-out.

"It's been very exciting," she said, adding the mosque's community hall became "very noisy" as people got to know one another throughout the day.

Families who picked up food boxes showed "a lot of excitement," she said, adding the hope is they can make a few meals with what they received.

People taking home food boxes received items including rice, oil and sugar. (Sana Yousuf)

Newcomers and immigrants often arrive with few resources than they have to deal with the pressures of finding work and housing in an unfamiliar place, Farghaly said. "I have seen first hand how difficult it is."

Local food providers have told CBC Hamilton food bank use is widening and more people are accessing them for the first time.

Anecdotally, Farghaly said, she's seen the number of people requesting help from Mishka increase in the year she's worked there.

With that in mind, she said, she's "feeling great" about what Mishka was able to achieve this weekend.

"Thank you to everyone who has contributed."

shackbleep on March 11st, 2025 at 04:01 UTC »

I live in Hamilton. Eastern Food Market is awesome, and there's a shawarma spot inside it called Timmy's Tanur that has the best shawarma and falafel I've ever had. The guy gave us a fresh falafel straight out the fryer, and it was ridiculous. So much good Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food here, and so many good people making it!

Specialist_Lock8590 on March 11st, 2025 at 03:38 UTC »

I live in another country. But I was born in Hamilton, Ontario. And, in this racist, evil, intolerant world run by Trump and Putin, this is the Hamilton, Ontario I remember as a five year old! Thank you!

fs2222 on March 11st, 2025 at 02:33 UTC »

There are a LOT of charities and religious groups (Christian, Muslim, Sikh) that provide free food in Hamilton, especially during the weekend. Its one of the better places in Ontario for that kind of stuff. Kudos to this group.