A random act of kindness – the free Ramadan fridges
June 12, 2016
A brilliant initiative has been set up across Dubai to ensure the city’s labourers have access to food to break their fast this Ramadan. It started with one fridge stocked with water and snacks for Iftar, and has quickly grown to a facebook group with more than 8,000 members and around 40 fridges all over Dubai.
Members have been donating everything from fruit to home-cooked meals to grateful workers, with fridges often powered by electricity from their own homes. Simple signs in different languages invite the hungry men to take some food, and notes of thanks have even been posted back.
What can you do?
Donate
Check out the below map for locations of the fridges, and add a few extras to your supermarket shop (small bottles of water or laban, single pieces or tins of fruit (with a ring-pull), small packets of biscuits, packets of Arabic bread and chocolate bars have been popular) or cook up portions of dinner at home (please date them to show when they were donated and when they need to be eaten by). Plastic bags for the men to use are helpful too.
Google map for the current locations of fridges here.
Create
Start your own Ramadan fridge! If there isn’t one in your area check out ads for second-hand fridges and start your own. Be sure to inform the facebook group so they can add it to the list and others in your neighbourhood can add to it.
Sponsor
Do you work for a company that could offer suitable products? Contact the admins on the site about bigger donations for multiple locations, or rally your colleagues to donate money then do a big shop (maybe even buy a fridge if you get enough).
Here’s the latest list of all of the fridges in Dubai:
Umm Suquim – Villa 40, Al Sayeef Street, Umm Suquiem 1
Jumeirah Village Triangle – District 7E, Street D29, Villa 18
Jumeirah Park – District 5, Street E-17, Villa I-17
Meadows 2, Street 13, Villa 6
Springs 11, Street 6, Villa 13
Springs 9, Street 5, Villa 46
Springs 5, Street 1, Villa 11
Springs 2, Street 13, Villa 17 (will start running later this evening)
Springs 1, Street 3, Villa 3
Dubai Investment Park, Villa 139, Greens Community
Jumeirah Village Circle, District 12, Street 3, La Casas, Villa 26
Jumeirah Village Circle, Street 2 entrance, Lotus Park, Villa 3
The Villa, CC7 Villa 17
Al Quoz, outside All Events Services office, 364 28A Street
Motor City, 166 Violet Place, Greens Community
Dubai Silicon Oasis, Semmer B97
Dubai Silicon Oasis, D158
Dubai Silicon Oasis, Cedre Villas, Cluster N, Villa 4
Palm – Golden Mile (at the Spinneys end) on the corner close to the Japenese restaurant
The Greens – Sharbatli Mosque (next to water cooler near the ladies prayer hall). There is an entrance right next to Seashell Cafe from the back of the building which takes you directly to the fridge. It’s open to the public & everyone is welcome. Please make sure you are wearing appropriate clothing when visiting the mosque.
Arabian Ranches, Al Reem 2, Street 1, Villa 75
Downtown Dubai/Business Bay, Executive Tower H
Uptown Motor City, Eastlands Pool House
Mirdif – at the mosque next to Lifco Supermarket
Al Barsha – at the Saleh Bin Lahej Mosque.
Al Barari Mosque Gate 4
Mirdif- at the mosque on Aswaaq St 71
The Palm – Canal 42, between frond F and G
What a fantastic way to remember the meaning of the Holy Month, and teach your children about charity.
Photos courtesy of the Facebook page.
Great work for spreading the word Helen!
Two more for Mirdif / Al Warqa’a! One next to Aswaaq in Al Warqa’a, and one by the mosque on Street 15 in Mirdif. Great stuff Mirdif!
Wow, I didn’t realise how widespread this is! Great initiative! Will share for sure!