The joy of giving

Just before sunset on sweltering Ramadan afternoons crowds of people are gathering outside petrol stations across the kingdom to break their fast courtesy of a unique charitable partnership between a supermarket and an oil giant.

Lulu Hypermarket has teamed up with Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) to highlight the true meaning of Ramadan with their Joy of Giving campaign.

Workers from construction sites flock to the specially-installed food kiosks set up for the initiative and are often joined by hungry hoards of customers who pull up in their cars and on motorbikes.

Seven busy Bapco petrol stations have set up the Lulu food banks to provide a box filled with water, lemon juice, dates, oranges, grapes and a cake roll – just the right nutrition to reboot the body after a 15-hour fast.

“Ramadan is all about giving, and the idea of handing out Iftar packs is a wonderful practice,” said Sabu Paous, 42, a builder from Adliya. “It’s unbelievably hot so we really appreciate these packs to cool down and energise before heading for home.”

The free service starts 30 minutes before Iftar and continues for 30 minutes after, with almost 800 boxes of food given out daily by big-hearted members of Lulu staff.

“I am very grateful for Lulu and Bapco for providing this excellent service. It is extremely helpful for those who are fasting and need something quickly,” said Ebrahim Kallingal, a cleaner from Adliya.

“The petrol station is located close to my home and being able to pick up the boxes of food just before 6pm means after a hard day’s work I do not have to worry about Iftar.

“These two big companies are doing a great service and are really helping the community.”

The fast-breaking box of goodies service has also been welcomed by motorists patiently waiting to fill up their vehicles with petrol.

Mohammed Redhi, from Mahooz, said: “It is a pleasant surprise. I was just coming to fill up my car and go home to my family for Iftar and I was handed a pack.

“I’m very grateful for their generosity and I think that Bapco and Lulu should continue with their charitable endeavours. This is what Bahrain and Ramadan is all about.”

Lulu Hypermarket is the largest retail chain in the region. It was started by EMKE Group, based in Abu Dhabi, but has grown to become one of the most popular shopping destinations in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Yemen and Egypt as well as Bahrain.

The hypermarket has a glowing reputation for its community projects and promotions during the holy month. Yusuffali M A, managing director of Lulu Group, said: “We have always placed great emphasis on social commitment and firmly believe in giving back to society.

“This campaign is our small gesture to help the residents here to break their fast while on the move.

“We understand that many of us can’t be home every day during Iftar but this campaign makes it possible for some of them to break their fast on time. I take this opportunity to wish everyone Ramadan Kareem.”

Bapco is wholly-owned by the government and is also regularly involved in charitable work including supporting the Think Pink breast cancer awareness campaign, the American Mission Hospital Island Classic charity golf tournament as well as having one of the kingdom’s leading charity organisations, Awali Ladies Hospitality Group, under its umbrella.

Bapco chief executive Gordon Smith said: “Bapco is delighted to support this initiative of Lulu Hypermarket to reach out to the community during the holy month.

Mr Smith added: “We have seen excellent response from our customers to this campaign. This step is part of Bapco’s ongoing corporate social responsibility initiatives aimed at fostering the social welfare of the Bahraini community.”

Mohammed A, 39, a newspaper distributor from Adliya, explained how the Joy of Giving campaign also really helped sum up the spirit of Ramadan for lowly-paid expat workers whose families were thousands of miles away.

He has visited the kiosk at the Adliya branch every day since the start of Ramadan with friends to receive a box of food and said: “I come here with them every day and we break our fast together. That is what Ramadan is about; breaking your fast with people you care about.”

The food kiosks are placed at Bapco petrol stations in Adliya, Hoora, Riffa/Sitra, Central Market, Seef, Al Rawdha and Nuzha in Hamad Town and will continue to operate throughout the holy month.