Mosques in Britain Deliver Food Parcels to Struggling Families
Green Lane Masjid, in Small Heath will take part in the cost of living scheme being run by charity Islamic Relief.
The 12,000 parcels will be distributed with 23 partner organizations, including the Small Heath center. The charity hopes to help 33,000 people this month and has called on the UK government to provide more support to families including the reinstatement of the £20 uplift in Universal Credit and temporary pause debt deductions.
One of Islamic Reliefs partners Masjid Al Falaah in Handsworth has experienced such high demand that they are running out of food in their food bank. Calls for help have doubled in the last six months.
The packs will include dry food data-x-items like pasta, rice, and cereal as well as tea, milk and juice. Islamic Relief UK will also be distributing food packs through partners including Cambridge Central Mosque, East London Mosque, Green Lane Masjid, Sufra NW, Newham Community Centre, Crookston community Centre, Al Suffa, One Roof Leicester, Cann Hall Mosque, Masjid Al-Hikmah, North Paddington food bank, Birmingham Mosque, Blackhall Mosque and The Felix project.
Tufail Hussain, Director of Islamic Relief UK, said: "Food banks are not a sustainable or dignified way to help people who are struggling to survive because they do not have a sufficient or reliable income. We will continue to support the most vulnerable through our programs, but food banks should not exist in one of the wealthiest countries in the world.
“The current cost of living crisis has revealed just how much the UK’s benefits system is failing to support those on the lowest incomes. Only long-term structural change will give people the best chance of escaping poverty and living with dignity.
“The UK government must do more to deal with the immediate impacts of the cost of living crisis, but also undertake a fundamental review of the UK’s social security system with a view to ensuring benefits provide people with an adequate income to cover their essential needs.”
Source: Birminghammail.co.uk
