15,000 textbooks distributed free to needy children

The Indian Cultural Society (ICS)collected more than 20,000 used books of Indian International School-Jeddah (IISJ)and distributed them among needy children.
The society is one of the oldest in the community having been in existence for 20 years. The group has been collecting used books from LKG to Grade 12 and distributing them free to needy students.
Arif Quraishi, president of ICS, said they did this to help the needy students who can’t afford books.
“This year as usual with the help of IISJ students and others, we collected more than 20,000 books from which 5000 were discarded and the rest were distributed to needy students of IISJ,” said Quraishi.
He also said the hard work was done by the efforts of all the members and their families, who made the books into sets according to different grades after collecting them in a week from different points.
“We not only received the books of IISJ, but also some of other curriculums. The books were also made into sets according to grades and given to the needy children. And not only books but also bags, new notebooks, stationery, which was donated by some kind people, were distributed among the children,” he said.
The hall of the local Shadab Hotel was turned into a storage place and divided into two parts one for females and other for males to come and take the books easily according to their need.
“Many people came from Taif, Makkah and Madinah, and they showed their joy as many books were not available at bookshops. But they received them free here,” he said. “Quite a few books are still left with us and they will be distributed soon,” he said.
Quraishi thanked all the organizations that wished to participate in the book distribution by putting bags, stationery and other related things to school but couldn’t do so.
“We are sorry we can’t allow one organization to come and stand with us and turn down others” he said. “So this is why we refused them all,” he said.