JEDDAH, 16 June 2005 — A leading charity in Jeddah has called upon other philanthropic organizations to unify their efforts, streamline their activities and add more transparency to their operations.
Saud Al-Felait, executive director of Al-Mustaudae Al-Khairy (Charitable Warehouse), said charitable organizations must coordinate their operations and make them more transparent.
He said Islamic charities inside and outside the Kingdom have been victims of ferocious attacks after 9/11 while other charity organizations were allowed to work freely.
“Our charity organizations are doing a great job in spite of their meager assets compared to foreign organizations,” he told Arab News.
According to a survey conducted by Al-Mustaudae Al-Khairy in cooperation with the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, there are 10,000 poor families in Jeddah alone and 5,000 others in nearby villages.
Jeddah Governor Prince Mishaal ibn Majed launched Al-Mustaudae Al-Khairy at a function held at Hilton Hotel two years ago. Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed is its honorary chairman.
Amin Al-Shanqeeti, public relations manager, said the organization was studying two new projects. One of them is Faed Al-Khair, a project that deals with making use of surplus food from banquets, he said, adding that it would be implemented with the support of hotels, hospitals and restaurants.
“The other project is aimed at providing training to members of poor families in order to develop their skills to take up various jobs,” he said. The organization will also try to find them jobs at both private and public sectors, he added.
The two new projects will be added to various charity projects that already exist: Zakat Al-Fitr — a project that aims to ensure that the zakah is reaching families in need; Istiqbal Al-Udhia — receiving and distributing Al-Udihia (sacrificial) meat; Iftar Sayem — a project to provide 4,000 meals daily to visiting Umrah pilgrims at Jeddah Islamic Port.
Another project is the distribution of school bags and essentials to children of families in need listed in their files. “Last year we distributed 5,000 school bags and 2,600 school uniforms,” Al-Shanqeeti pointed out.
The organization distributes new clothes to the poor on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha festivals. “We are also involved in the distribution of meals to pilgrims during the Haj season, in cooperation with the charity named after the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd,” he added.
The charity will accept all kinds of old furniture to distribute them among the poor after making necessary repairs. “We have our own workshops for this purpose,” he said.
“If you know a person in need or would like to give donations to the organization contact us at Tel: 6617111,” Shanqeeti said.
