Writer: Sherica Mohammed Cumberbatch
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful Allah (swt) says in the Holy Qur'an: I"f you disclose your Sadaqaat (almsgiving), it is well; but if you conceal them and give them to the poor, that is better for you” [Surah 2 Ayah271] Additionally, there is the Sahih Muslim hadith which says that among the seven whom Allah (swt) would give protection with His shade on the Day of Judgment is the person who gives charity and conceals it (to such an extent) that the right hand does not know what the left has given. Since 2011 the BAML has been coordinating the collection of donations and packaging and distribution of Ramadan Hampers to families and individuals within the Muslim community in Barbados. It is always difficult to reconcile the statements above with the need to publicise requests for contributions. But Alhamdulillah, this year, our Muslim brothers and sisters once more stepped up to the plate to give Sadaqaat by donating towards the hamper items.
We will not speak of the extent of those items save to say that they comprise primarily of non-perishable food items. What we will share however, is some of the co-ordinating elements which arise for consideration when engaging in this type of venture.
Identifying potential recipients - this list is so secret that only one BAML member compiles and keeps it
Identifying a list of food items - the types, the amounts
Circulating the list (and the updated list) periodically
Identifying and getting permission for collection points (this year Al Falah School and Madina Masjid were collection sites)
Storing the collected items Keeping inventory of items collected
Updating the list
Allocating the items collected to the various individuals and families based on size
Seeking donors
Seeking volunteers and organizing them
Purchasing of vouchers and top-up items
Moving items collected to the packing site
Collating the items
Collecting and preparing packaging
Packing the items in packaging that seeks to maintain balance and weight
Labeling the hampers
Distributing the hampers
Cleaning up & recycling
Technology is a wonderful resource in this type of venture - spreadsheets that automatically update totals and balances, apps that convert columns of a spreadsheet into a non-editable graphic, apps and emails that facilitate dissemination of information, telephones and websites that seek information on pricing, apps that convert into balance sheets. And that most useful resource of all - the Muslim brothers and sisters who from within Barbados and outside of Barbados contributed their time, financing, physical assistance, and prayers, who assisted with the distribution of information, who consented to hosting collection barrels, who called wholesalers and retailers, who bought, delivered, collected, counted, picked up, prepared, packaged, sealed, beribboned, lifted and clustered, and delivered. The members of the BAML are grateful to Allah (swt) for His favours and for His blessings and express their appreciation and gratitude to all those persons who contributed in one way or another towards the Ramadan Hampers. Jazakallah khayr - May Allah (swt) reward you with good.