When Mr Muzammil Mohamad first organised a charity bake sale for his friend’s company, he thought it would be a one-off project.
But the positive response to the sale has led to the formation of a social initiative that is now raising funds to feed needy families during Ramadan.
For his first charity bake sale in 2917, the 32-year-old civil servant gathered friends and food and beverage players as vendors to sell halal pastries to raise funds for charity.
When the bake sale received positive response, Mr Muzammil was approached by an acquaintance, warehouse coordinator Saleha Abdullah, 29, to form a social initiative.
They started non-profit Halal Goods Do Good in 2017 and have organised five food sales to raise funds for different charities, including some which have difficulties raising funds due to their size or lack of experience. These events have often required the duo to use money from their own pockets and can cost up to $2,000 per sale.
Now, the duo are embarking on their first pledge event in the spirit of Ramadan. They have partnered local social enterprise GobblerShop to raise funds to provide bags of groceries to needy families. GobblerShop sells groceries at discounted prices and helps the socially disadvantaged find employment.
The groceries will go to the beneficiaries of four charities – Free Food For All, Project Goodwill Aid, Hira Society, and For The People and Community.
Mr Muzammil said: “We are on a timeline to coincide the giving of the bags with Ramadan but the beneficiaries are not solely Muslim. The bags are for everyone.”
As of 11 May 2018, the team has raised 270 bags out of its target of 400 bags. The call for pledges is expected to end on 16 May 2018.
Read more here.
Source: The Straits Times, 14 May 2018