Once again this Ramadan, members of a local social media volunteer group joined hands to carry out an Iftar campaign. Dozens of men and women from the Qatar Volunteers (QV) group successfully managed the distribution of more than 2,500 Iftar packets to motorists on streets and at traffic signals recently.
The QV volunteers distributed the Iftar packets at the main traffic signals including Toyota, Ramada and Al Sadd signals as part of a campaign to spread awareness among motorists about safe driving.
More than 100 volunteers gathered to donate, participate and distribute Iftar packs to motorists who were getting late and were in a rush to try and reach their homes for Iftar.
In most cases, such motorists do not carry eatables with them to break their fast with while they are still driving. This results in them trying to speed and in the attempt to reach their homes fast, they may panic and cause or become involved in a minor or major road accident.
The QV campaign provides such motorists with Iftar packs. They help them break their fast and tell them to “not be in a rush to reach your home; drive safely, your loves ones are waiting for you.”
The packing of packets took place on June 17 and distribution was carried out on June 18.
The Iftar Drive Campaign has become an annual Qatar Volunteers tradition, under their founder Speed Oli, and is now in its 9th year. The group says it was the first one to start Iftar Drives in 2008. The campaign sees volunteers stationed throughout Doha with care packs of dates, water, juice, and other items at sunset, ready to help people break their fast at Iftar and discourage motorists from rushing to their destination. Today, several online groups, companies and even individuals conduct their own Iftar Drives on the streets of the city, inspired by the idea.
This year’s campaign was supported by Loyola International School, which provided the storage for the Iftar items and space for packing. SD Salman Jewellers offered Iftar-Dinner to all the volunteers involved in the work.
Qatar Volunteers comprise a group of active residents who regularly organise several activities throughout the year such as blood donation drives, beach clean-up trips, disaster relief efforts and national and international disaster response with other NGOs.
They are an online community helping the less fortunate and poor people living in Qatar. They only accept goods as donation from different communities living in Qatar to support their campaigns, such as drinking water bottles, assorted juices, soft drinks, new clothes and other items.
After the successful Iftar Drive of Qatar Volunteers and the overwhelming response from volunteers, the QV volunteers gathered again on Friday to join hands with Al Jaber Opticians to support their Iftar Drive.
The volunteers gathered around noon to finalise the arrangements of Iftar packs at Al Jaber Opticians Administration Office in the Bin Omran area. They then got together at the Dairy Queen parking area between 5 and 6pm to get their assigned areas and tasks. The distribution of the Iftar packs started at 6:15pm. The volunteers were treated to a dinner at 7pm at the Al Jaber Opticians Administration Office.
GROUP PHOTO: The Qatar Volunteers have been conducting the activity for nine years now.
