Dubai: The UAE Food Bank, under the umbrella of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, has launched the Preserving the Blessing in Our Neighbourhood initiative. This program aims to promote a culture of sustainability and food preservation, while enhancing community partnership to reduce food waste, support food security, and reinforce values of giving and social responsibility.
According to Emirates News Agency, the initiative is being held at the Quranic Park until 12th February. It involves 150 volunteers who participate in donation registration, donor reception and organisation, surplus food inventory, food basket preparation, and awareness and educational workshops. The initiative seeks to achieve humanitarian, social, and environmental objectives by encouraging compassion and generosity among community members, promoting sustainable food practices, and protecting the environment by reducing waste. It also focuses on strengthening community participation and raising awareness of responsible consumption behaviour.
Manal Obaid bin Yaroof, Head of the Executive Team of the UAE Food Bank, commented on the initiative, stating that it is part of a series of community initiatives aimed at enhancing public awareness of food preservation and spreading a culture of sustainability. She highlighted that neighbourhoods have been chosen as starting points for this initiative to deliver humanitarian, social, and environmental messages that reflect the Bank's comprehensive approach to surplus food management. This initiative supports the efficient collection and distribution of food to beneficiaries and promotes responsible consumption behaviours that result in positive environmental outcomes.
The initiative includes various activities such as volunteer registration, children's programmes, and outreach to neighbourhood residents. It invites them to donate surplus food, sign the food preservation pledge, record food donations, and prepare food baskets or containers of cooked meals for distribution to beneficiaries in coordination with charitable entities.
Contributing partners to the initiative include Dubai Municipality, ADNH Catering, charitable associations, and private packaging and logistics companies. This reflects the Bank's ongoing efforts to strengthen strategic partnerships and expand collaboration with numerous stakeholders, including international humanitarian organisations and private sector companies.
The UAE Food Bank continues to launch humanitarian initiatives and charitable campaigns aimed at reinforcing the UAE's approach to philanthropy and humanitarian work. Through its programmes, the Bank promotes the values of giving, supports community engagement, and raises awareness of responsible consumption practices that preserve food and reduce waste. The Bank also achieves its humanitarian objectives by collecting surplus food and distributing it to beneficiaries, while strengthening partnerships to support national goals.