With 39% of Muslims living in the most deprived areas of the UK, Open Kitchen is supporting the cost of living crisis by providing food during Ramadan.
I've heard the saying, “Nursing the body is food, and nourishing the soul is feeding others.” open kitchen Both Hounslow and Nottingham embody this idea. For the past five years, these community kitchens have been open daily throughout Ramadan, Christmas, holidays, and weekends, and he has served more than 500,000 hot, restaurant-quality meals to those who need it most.
There is a true sense of harmony and joy. open kitchen, people of all backgrounds, races, and religions are welcomed with friendly faces, no questions asked. There are no exhaustive forms to fill out, no discrimination or embarrassment, just help from ordinary people in the community doing extraordinary things.
Impact of the cost of living crisis
Cost of Living Crisis Report published by UK charities last year muslim hand and Fairshare Midlandsdemonstrated the importance of the following initiatives: open kitchendescribed by service users as a “lifeline” as inflation soars.
The findings highlight how low-income households and individuals have been severely affected by a variety of factors, including job losses during the pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has contributed to rising utility and food costs. did.
In addition to being pushed to their mental limits, service users also shared the daily struggle to survive. This struggle affected all parts of society, including the Muslim community.
The Islamic Census survey found that even before the pandemic, more than 50% of Muslims were living in poverty, with 39% living in the most deprived areas of England and Wales. Since 2021, one in five Muslims have used a food bank and one in three have reported missing a meal.
Help during Ramadan
These findings are sadly echoed by service user Kiren. Open kitchen. she said new arab, “I live with my brother and work part-time to earn a living. open kitchen For the past year, I have been receiving my daily meals and supplies online. This service was very helpful to me during the month of Ramadan. I was able to put food on the table for my family, including my four children, and I was able to begin fasting. Services like this are essential, but it's scary to think what it would be like if they didn't exist. Frankly, without this intervention, I would have gone hungry for days. ”
Every year since its opening, open kitchen Hounslow and Nottingham have seen consistent increases in visitor numbers and increased demand for hot meals and essential items.
Nottingham Initiative manager Imran Khan told me: “Demand has definitely increased since we opened in 2021 and we believe the rising cost of living is having an impact on that. There’s no room,” he said. “We have seen vulnerable groups, including Muslims, visiting this facility. Some are now even asking if they can donate clothes because they cannot buy them with their current budget. did.”
Shazia, Hounslow Volunteer open kitchen She told me about the heartbreaking stories she had heard. “There are mothers who cannot feed their children with milk. There are also beneficiaries who are stressed because they cannot afford to put on freezers or heaters. It's heartbreaking to see how much people are doing. Initiatives like this have to exist because it's a place where people can socialize, connect and forget their worries.”
School holidays are often difficult when low-income families rely on breakfast clubs and school meals.
Since the Islamic month of Ramadan coincides with the two-week Easter holiday, many people are wondering: open kitchen It is a meal to break the fast and a meal to feed the children.
open kitchen has pledged to distribute more than 15,000 hot meals across Nottingham and Hounslow over 30 days.We also offer Ramadan open kitchen Most of the £500,000 worth of donations is being used to ensure its doors remain open.
With this in mind, I couldn't help but return to my conversation with UK Program Director Abdul Rahman. muslim handWho said it was beautiful?”open kitchen This is a testament to our Islamic faith and a reminder of the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. He is not a believer who feeds while his neighbor is starving. We are proud of the legacy we have planted in the heart of Hounslow and Nottingham, despite the ongoing harsh climate, and this is thanks to our dedicated volunteers and staff. ”
With everything going on around the world right now, it's the perfect time to come together in your local community and do something special this Ramadan.
We must remember that nothing is ever too small to make a difference. Our small shop on the streets of Hounslow and Nottingham provides a lifeline to hundreds of people every day. It reminds us that nothing is impossible.
Sahira Javaid is senior spokesperson for the UK-based charity Muslim Hands.
Follow her on Twitter: @JavaidSahira
