Muslims Feed Hungry Britons

Racing to feed hungry and poor people, Muslim organizations and community members in the central British town of Blackburn have been cooperating with the city’s food bank to feed those in desperate need.

“It is a fact that one in five people are living below the poverty line,” Councilor Salim Sidat told Lancashire Telegraph.

“I’ve have been down to the food bank and you can see people are really struggling.

“They are in desperate need and we need a big push to help them,” he added.

The new initiative, launched in cooperation with the city’s food bank, aims to encourage longstanding and regular fundraising to feed hungry people.

It asks residents to donate ‘non-perishable’ food stuffs at a number of mosques and Islamic schools on Friday December 14 to help struggling families across the borough.

Suggested foods are UHT or powdered milk, sugar, long life fruit juice, tins of soup, pasta sauce and tinned tomatoes.

Other items also include breakfast cereals, rice, pasta, tea bags, biscuits and any other long life foods.

Organizers have set several collection points at different mosques and Islamic schools including Jamia Masjid on Cumberland Street, Noorul Islam in Audley Range, Ghosia Masjid on Chester Street, Masjide E Sajedeen on Plane Tree Road, Troy Street Masjid and Noorani Masjid.

Once all donations are collected, it will be dropped off at the Blackburn Food bank Warehouse on Thursday December 20.

Blackburn with Darwen councilors and officers are also supporting the initiative as part of the Your Call campaign.

Interfaith

The Muslim efforts to help the needy won plaudits for uniting the British people and showing the true nature of Islam.

This is an issue that affects many people across Blackburn and this is the time to show good relations between both white and Asian communities,” Councilor Sidat said.

“Muslims are being born and bred here and we shouldn’t have any divisions, we should look at everyone’s needs and address them accordingly.”

British Muslims, estimated at nearly 2.5 million, have been in the eye of storm since the 7/7 2005 attacks.

A Financial Times opinion poll showed that Britain is the most suspicious nation about Muslims.

A poll of the Evening Standard found that a sizable section of London residents harbor negative opinions about Muslims.

The anti-Muslim tide has also been on the rise across Europe, with several countries are restricting the freedom of Muslims to wearing face-veil and building mosques.