Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
As families and communities gather for iftar, teams from the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) work behind the scenes to ensure surplus food reaches those in need and every blessing is shared.
This holy month of Ramadan, the ERC is expanding its long-running Grace Conservation Project, aiming to collect and distribute 5,000 ready-to-eat meals daily, according to Sultan Al Shehhi, General Manager of the programme.
Speaking to Aletihad, Al Shehhi said the team has been working to increase the number of beneficiaries this year, while also diversifying the programme to reach all segments of society.
"As part of our community care efforts during the Year of Family, our initiatives for this holy month include iftar distribution, Ramadan baskets, food parcels, caravans, and dates-and-water distribution," he said.
The team also organises events such as 'Suhoor for Them', iftar gatherings for orphans, and Eid clothing distribution during the last 10 days of Ramadan, Al Shehhi added.
In total, the ERC seeks to provide around 1.5 million iftar meals under the project throughout the holy month.
Distribution takes place across several locations, including traffic light intersections, iftar cannon locations, hospital emergency centres, ambulance stations, ADNOC stations, highways, and worker gathering points across the UAE, alongside dedicated areas for iftar and dates-and-water programmes.
Championing Sustainability
At the heart of the project is a focus on long-term sustainability grounded in cultural and religious values.
"Our faith encourages the preservation of blessings, and the UAE community actively supports this principle through participation in the project," Al Shehhi said.
High-quality surplus food donations are set aside for distribution to families in need, while other contributions are sent for recycling and converted into animal feed, fertilisers, and bio-oils.
"This is achieved by linking donors with food recycling companies. We have achieved significant success in food recycling programmes," he added.
Beyond food, the team also accepts clothing and furniture. All surplus items are processed and sanitised according to strict safety standards before reaching beneficiaries.
Innovations have also transformed the workflow from collection to distribution.
"Technology has improved communication, data exchange, execution, geographic tracking, partnership coordination, and database updates across all Emirates," Al Shehhi said. "These technological solutions have significantly contributed to streamlining and accelerating our humanitarian work throughout the year and especially during the holy month."
Al Shehhi stressed that collaborations are key to expanding the project's impact: "Through these partnerships, we aim to widen the list of beneficiaries and diversify our programmes, strengthening community impact and advancing humanitarian and strategic charitable work."
The Grace Conservation Project, under the ERC, is not a one-off Ramadan initiative but a continuous government programme dedicated to making the most of every blessing and supporting those who need it most.
"Our goal is to ensure the sustainability of surplus resources and charitable work," Al Shehhi said.
