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BLUFFDALE — More than 80 people packed thousands of meals for those in need Saturday morning at the Bluffdale fire station.
Islamic Relief USA collaborated with Al Maida, a local youth-focused organization, and the nonprofit Rise Against Hunger to host this meal pack event. Volunteers from across the valley packed bags with dehydrated vegetables, packets of vitamin powder, soy and rice.
Ali Mir is a volunteer engagement specialist for Islamic Relief, where he recruits volunteer organizations to engage with the charity. He said Islamic Relief was discussing with the mosques in Utah about the need for more community events and decided to bring the meal pack event here.
"Really, it's just a way for us to follow what our faith teaches, which is to help others irrespective of their faith," Mir said. It's been a blessing bringing people of different faiths and different organizations together to serve.
The goal of the event was to package 25,000 meals that Rise Against Hunger will distribute to areas facing hunger crises. Mir said the volunteers packaged 22,000 meals in less than three hours.
"What you are giving today is invaluable," Mir said. He traveled from Southern California for the event and said "seeing you all has warmed up our trip here."
Really, it's just a way for us to follow what our faith teaches, which is to help others irrespective of their faith.
–Al Mir, Islamic Relief
Al Maida was established in 2022 and is focused on bringing together the Muslim youth in Utah, engaging them in positive activities and helping them be leaders in the community. Spokesman Samir Khan said the group aims to connect the Muslim community with each other while also building interfaith relationships.
"We're trying to encourage them to do healthy activities, give back to the communities and humanitarian efforts," Khan said.
Khan said his faith teaches him to serve humanity and that events like this are a way to encourage kids early on to see the value of serving others.
"We're here for a good cause," he said.
Mir agreed and said service helps him feel connected to his faith and connected to humanity. He is grateful he gets to do events like this for a living that make his heart feel fulfilled.
Jennifer Fueston from Rise Against Hunger told a story of how the organization helped a school in South Sudan. They provided meals for the 500 children while also implementing agricultural programs in the community.
After 18 months, Rise Against Hunger pulled out of the school because they were no longer needed and the community had become self-sufficient and ended hunger in their area.
"That's because of the work of people like you," Fueston said to all of the volunteers.
Fueston said Rise Against Hunger has sent food to Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, all over Africa and more. "We're really touching the places around the world that need it the most," she said.
Amir Foy from Sugar House and Hisham Elsheshtawy from Daybreak both volunteered at the meal pack event.
Foy said it was nice seeing the Muslim community come together to help and he enjoyed packing the meals to help others. Elsheshtawy said he loved how the meals were going to help all kinds of people in need, not just Muslims.
Seventeen-year-old Rojeen Giravi was scooping rice for the meals and said she volunteered because she wanted to help people.
"It's good to give back to people, especially those in need. It's important to look out for others," she said.
