by Dimitrije Martinovic (Dimitrije is a staff at FOCUS MEDIA ARTS CENTRE)

Today on Radio Regent reporter Jonathan Bradely speaks with Kumsa Baker about a Regent Park community group giving out free meals to people in need during Ramadan,  RamadanMeals TO. The program is working to ensure people have access to fresh Halal meals during Ramadan. These meals are being given out to people residing in Regent Park from April 12 to May 12, 2021.  This initiative is being led by Healing As One a Toronto youth group.

Asked about RamadanMealsTO, Kumsa Baker said: “ RamadanMeals TO was started last year during the  pandemic. When Ramadan began, folks in the community were concerned about all the people who had lost their jobs because of shutdowns, and there was the feeling that there was a need for support. A lot of that need we heard through the Mosque.”

Mosques during Ramada are traditionally places where people go to spend time to pray and to attend community-based events, and for example, if they need support in the way of food or money to get by during Ramadan, then the Mosque is a good place for that. Unfortunately, during the pandemic Mosques have been shut down and people have been left without these vital support networks.

RamadanMealsTO, responded to this situation be connecting with various community members to identify who might be in need of support and who might be in a position to help. Outreach netted both volunteers and donations. Youth from the organization Healing As One became involved in the delivery of food and were able to deliver as many 100 meals a day during the Ramadan period.

Kumsa Baker went to describe that a lot of the meals were prepared by community members who had catering services, restaurants, and by just regular moms or aunties who wanted to pitch in. During Ramadan, Muslims are required to fast from dawn till Sunset, and traditionally only eat a dinner. The prepared meals organized by RamadanMealsTO consisted of rice, chicken, beef, salad, and sometimes fruits.
In the second year of their program, the group has been delivering 350 meals a day in the Downtown East area.

To connect with RamadanMealsTO go to https://healingasone.ca/