Witnessing the joy of giving

One of the kingdom’s big-hearted superstores is spreading joy once more throughout the holy month by distributing boxes of food to flocks of fasters gathering around mosques, markets and labour camps.

Lulu Hypermarket annually highlights the true spirit of Ramadan through its Joy of Giving charitable endeavours. Juzer Rupawala, Lulu Hypermarket’s regional director, said: “The Joy of Giving campaign is our way of sharing the Ramadan spirit with the community and we are very happy that we have many of Bahrain’s leading charities and community organisations coming forward to partner with us.”

Vans, branded with the Lulu ‘Joy of Giving’ emblem, are being sent out to different locations on Thursday and Friday, minutes before sun-set, to distribute thousands of iftar meal packages containing dates, sweets, juice, fruits, water and snacks including samosas to members of the public and the needy.

The first distribution was held at the Aradous Construction camp and was partnered by the Indian Ladies Association. More than 1,400 workers broke their fast with Lulu’s Iftar meals. The vans set off for Manama to distribute another 1,000 iftar packets, with members of Lulu management taking on the task.

Your FM 104.2 radio jockeys also joined the team in handing out boxes and continued to announce distribution points on the air to let listeners know where to gather. The GulfWeekly team caught up with the team in front of Al Eslah Society Bahrain in Muharraq were fast-breaking favourites were handed over to thankful drivers and pedestrians, as well as to members of the Bahrain Parents Society (BPS).

RJ Hemang Sharma, the radio station’s Morning Drive show host, who helped pass out the parcels too, said: “This is another great opportunity for all of us to get together and experience the joy of distributing iftar food to fasters and those in need. The smiles on the faces of the people we meet speak volumes. Also, we distributed to those driving in case they get stuck in traffic on the way home.

“Aside from passing out boxes, we placed boxes inside Al Eslah’s Hall for members of the BPS to break their fast who were organising an iftar.” More than 400 individuals attended BPS’s iftar event along with Javeed Malik, Ambassador of Pakistan. BPS member Kabeer Ahmed, 28, was thrilled with the turn out.

The Pakistani auditing manager said: “We wanted to open the hall to our members as well as to the public, especially to those in need. We wanted everyone to sit together and break their fast as one. All nationalities were welcomed. “Thanks go out to Lulu Hypermarket for providing the boxes for us and doing such a wonderful job overall. What they are doing is great. They have volunteers from different religions passing out parcels in the heat to fasters.

We appreciate the support.” Abdulrehman Zafar Iqbal, 17, a student at Pakistan School, also joined the iftar celebration with his friends.  Abdulrehman, from Riffa, said: “This is a great event for friends and families to get together.

It’s also great to see what Lulu is doing for the people of Bahrain. They really do care.” Within a few minutes the van, once filled to the top with boxes, was completely bare, leaving behind a sea of smiling faces. The next day, the replenished van made its way to Bab Al Bahrain to spread further joy across the kingdom and will continue to do so until the end of the holy month. Ramadan celebrations continued at Lulu Hypermarket Galleria in Zinj on Thursday evening with youngsters from the Child Wish Foundation Bahrain enjoying a series of activities and games at the store’s Gergaoun event.

Bahraini star Nasser Sadoon entertained children as they got their faces painted, henna done and played with cartoon mascots.