Ramadan initiative will help needy families

The Charity Bus campaign, launched by the Roads and Transport Authority, will begin next week.

An initiative in Dubai will offer Ramadan rations for 200 needy families and 1,750 iftar meals in different areas.

The Charity Bus campaign, launched by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), starts next week.

“The RTA is gearing to roll out a host of typical Ramadan initiatives starting with the Charity Bus initiative under the ‘With You’ programme featuring the participation of volunteering employees, directors and chief executives,” said Yousef Al Rida, the authority’s executive director of corporate support services. “The RTA always seeks to offer humanitarian contributions and take initiatives supporting charitable events of benefit to targeted community segments. Ramadan is a great event to showcase RTA’s strategy in this regard.”

The initiative will offer Ramadan rations to families in Oud Mateena, Al Qusais and Old Al Quoz, along with iftar meals to patrons at Al Ghubaiba, Gold Souk and Al Qusais, as well as visitors to Burjuman and Ittihad metro stations.

“Such activities are needed more and more in the UAE,” said George Itty, chief executive of Nahtam, a social responsibility organisation in Abu Dhabi. “The way corporate companies and the government are coming forward is excellent and I think more people in the country are taking up social work, caring for people and supporting them. It’s a good time to do so.”

The RTA was also supporting Ramadan Aman, Together for an Accident-Free Ramadan campaign, launched by Al Ihsan Charitable Society. “This will assist in achieving the objective of distributing iftar meals to motorists on roads and intersections during Maghreb Athan, the call for prayer,” Mr Al Rida said. “This will help to safeguard the lives of drivers on the road during iftar time and curb excessive speed and potential accidents.”

The move was welcomed by Ahmed Al Zahid of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award.

“No doubt the contribution of the RTA to the Award in deploying buses, vehicles and drivers to facilitate the movement of guests, including contestants and judges panel, is very crucial for us.”

RTA is also supporting the 18th Dubai International Holy Quran Award by deploying buses to Mamzer to serve guests and competitors.

“Such a move reflects the RTA’s tradition of effectively contributing to distinguished events marking this holy month,” Mr Al Rida aid. “Our Ramadan initiatives have focused this year on orphans where [we] pledged to receive coupons from the Dar Al Ber Society to collect donations from [our] employees in support of Eid dressing to orphans.”