Already known for a project that feeds the mind, Calgary’s Love With Humanity Association has a new effort aimed at feeding the body.
The non-profit charity group has built and stocked cabinets full of non-perishable food items.
“This is a mini outdoor food bank,” association founder Syed Hassan said. “Open 24 hours. Come anytime: no registration required, whatever you like, you can take.”
The cabinets sit along the street outside Hassan’s house in the northeast Calgary community of Saddle Ridge, beside the group’s first multicultural little free library.
It’s full of donated books in several languages, including Punjabi, Urdu, Russian and Korean.
Hassan got the idea after noticing the challenges facing new immigrants.
“Seniors and newcomers, they have no ride to go to the library,” Hassan said.
The Love With Humanity Association has since installed the multicultural little libraries in several other spots.
The association’s volunteers hope for similar success taking the mini outdoor food banks to other communities around the province.
“Because you know the Alberta situation,” Hassan said. “People are jobless.”
“We are taking the initiative and starting here, hoping it will catch on,” volunteer Waki Sayeed said. “We will be reaching out to all mosques, synagogues, churches, temples and opening something similar.”
Hassan is a manager with a heavy equipment company, with his fellow volunteers also juggling work and raising families.
WATCH (July 27, 2019): Calgary-based Love With Humanity cut the tape on its mini food bank project on Saturday. Josh Ritchie reports on the group’s goal to help those in need and how they’re using a simple idea to make a big change.
Hassan being credited with beginning something that is so simple but makes a large impact on the surrounding community.
“Syed has made this tremendous inroad to create something that is very inclusive and brings a lot of people together,” said Leela Aheer, minister of culture, multiculturalism and status of women, on Saturday.
“It’s so innovative, I just don’t think anyone’s thought of it before.”
As an immigrant who came to Canada in 2009, Hassan is grateful for the opportunities he’s found.
The group also received recognition from one of Alberta’s highest representatives.
– With files from Josh Ritchie