Halal Food Fundraiser brings Fredericton community together for Gaza, Sudan and the Harvey Food Bank

Asma Abdel Kader, a fellow board member along with Rawia Mokhtar, President of the Manarat Association for Community services. (Credit: Peter Gross)

Despite freezing rain on Sunday, Jan. 11, Fredericton residents gathered at the Cultural Centre to support the 13th Halal Food Fundraiser, raising money for humanitarian aid in Gaza and Sudan while also supporting the rural Harvey Food Bank.

Approximately 30 vendors filled the wellness room at the Cultural Centre with authentic Middle Eastern halal cuisine, henna drawing stations, and a kids’ corner featuring a bouncy castle, face painting, popcorn and costumes.

The fundraiser is organized by the Manarat Association for Community Services, a Muslim-led non-profit organization focused on humanitarian aid both locally and internationally.

Rawia Mokhtar said the Manarat Association is the lead organizer of the Halal Food Fundraiser and works with several sponsors to support the event.

She said sponsors include Islamic Relief Canada and the International Development and Relief Fund, while the Cultural Centre supports the fundraiser by offering reduced rental rates for the space.

Mokhtar said participating vendors are required to donate a minimum of 25 per cent of their sales to humanitarian aid in Gaza, Sudan and the Harvey Food Bank, with some choosing to donate more.

Mokhtar, originally from Egypt, has been doing charity work “all of her life.” 

For the last 12 months, the Manarat Association has been providing donations in war zones such as Gaza and also locally.

This month, their focus is empowering women and providing donations for humanitarian aid globally and in New Brunswick like emerging entrepreneurs and established business partners like Syrian Delight.

They have supported not-for-profit organizations in Fredericton such as the Food Bank and the Fredericton shelter. 

“We want to go rural,” said Mokhtar. 

The Manarat Association empowers emerging entrepreneurs, where they can test the market for their businesses. They are provided with spaces and marketing advice. 

Nafisa Wahedy and her sister Huma Wahidi sell traditional food from their country, Afghanistan. (Credit: Peter Gross)

Sundus Hyder, a second-year MBA student from India, raised in Saudi Arabia, and Farzana Akhter, a third-year UNB business student majoring in marketing, raised in Qatar, display the fusion fried pasta dish. (Credit: Peter Gross)

A group of four friends orginally from India and Bangladesh started experimenting with a fusion of flavours from their countries to sell at the fundraiser.

Hyder wanted to contribute to Gaza and Sudan and give back to the Fredericton community.

“What’s happening in Gaza is really sad and in Sudan. As students, we usually do not have the capacity to go out of our way and help those in need,” she said. “This is a good way for us to come out and help … living in Fredericton, I have to give back to this community because it’s given so much to me,” said Hyder.

Akhter shares the same motive.

“A lot of it is also for the intention of raising awareness for Gaza and raising funds … also wanting to have the community gathering and do it with friends.” 

Mokhtar said the funds raised will be sent through the association’s largest sponsor, the International Development and Relief Fund and through a non-profit organization in Gaza.

“We have communication with them; we serve them directly.”

Mokhtar and her team have gotten to know some of the families in Gaza and confirmed they have received the donations.

“The mother that I am in touch with, she was able to buy chocolates for her kids … I talked to the kids. They showed me the chocolates and they said they were very happy. I felt that I was eating chocolate myself,” said Mokhtar.