LIFE for Relief & Development, an international Non-Governmental Organization, currently celebrating 30 years of unflinching service to humanity worldwide, few days ago, distributed 550 bags of 25 kilograms rice and other assorted food items as Ramadan Food Basket packages to 15 Mosques, communities and People living With Disabilities (PWDs).
The distribution exercise of the Ramadan Food Basket was held at Ital Street off Fadika Drive, Newton in the outskirts of Waterloo, Western Area Rural District.
In her opening remarks before the distribution exercise ,the country Director for LIFE, Haja Mariama Fadika described the offer of food baskets as part of their usual gestures to Muslims, admonishing beneficiaries to use the food items to observe fasting as mandated by God/Allah.
The Country Director urged Muslim believers to truly say their prayers so that they could communicate directly to God for peace to continue to prevail in the country while she also expressed optimism that LIFE for Relief and Development will surely continue to do the needful for vulnerable people in society despite the global crisis.
Mammy Haja ,also , expressed her sincere appreciation to members of LIFE- USA for the significant role they have been rendering across the globe, especially during this trying moment when the whole world is adversely affected economically. She also wished the humanitarian relief organization a happy 30th anniversary celebration.
Speaking to hundreds of beneficiaries, the Program Coordinator, LIFE for Relief &Development, Mariama Turay intimated that LIFE had been serving humanity for the past thirty years, especially in the areas of health, education, agriculture and other humanitarian interventions, noting that beneficiaries were invited from various mosques and surrounding communities within the Western Area Rural and Urban.
Madam Turay said LIFE main objective is to provide food support to people who can’t afford the needed food items during this Holy month of Ramadan, adding that the donated items would enable Muslims to observe their fasting safe and sound.
Speaking on the importance of observing the Holy Month of Ramadan, Sheik Alhassan Jalloh said the food basket is important to them as Muslims because, “it is part of fasting.”
He explained that Almighty Allah brought the Holy Month of Ramadan not only to clean or wipe off our sins, but to also unify Muslims as servants of God/Allah.
“We appreciate the food gesture and we are grateful to the donor partners for the sacrifice they have been making over the past years amidst global economic challenges just to bring relief to humanity,” Sheik Alhassan Jalloh expressed appreciation.
Another beneficiary, Sheik Ahmed Sillah intimated how Ramadan is important to Muslims in diverse ways, commenting that fasting brings Muslim worshipers closer to Allah and would cleanse sins committed by a believer if he/she observed the month according to the dictates of the Holy Quran and the lessons of Prophet Mohammed (SAW).
He admonished that the duty of every Muslim is to complete the days of fasting which normally ends within 29 or 30 days.
Another Islamic Scholar from the Calaba Town Community Mosque, Sheik Alimamy Conteh prayed for the continuous success of the organization, emphasizing that they have been benefiting a lot from the regular donation activities of LIFE.
The Islamic Scholar prayed for the protection of the Management and Staff of the organization to continue giving their humanitarian relief support.
Speaking on behalf of colleagues visually impaired, Abass Fofanah, who is from the United Muslims Blind Association, Waterloo, expressed happiness over the Iftar food basket distributions among vulnerable people and thanked the donor organization for putting smiles on their faces, especially in this month of fasting when things are extremely difficult.
He deliberated on the way and manner LIFE had played an integral role in transforming lives among the poor, deprived and oppressed people in Sierra Leone.
Mammy Fatmata Koroma, a visually impaired woman also expressed her profound appreciation to LIFE for recognizing them during this month of Ramadan with a bag of rice and assorted food items, adding that they will always be proud of LIFE and wished LIFE a fruitful 30th year celebration.
The distribution exercise was climaxed with the expression of messages of appreciation from all beneficiaries who prayed for the donor partners to succeed in their drive to support the needy during such a period and other eventful programs.
