Food Waste: A Shocking Reality in the Fight Against Hunger

This winter, for just £50 you can provide warm clothing, blankets and fuel for families who otherwise may not survive the winter

One of our unique projects is the Springs of Hope family centre for Syrian orphans and widowed mothers. With over 215 orphans in our full time care and 70 widowed mothers, Springs of Hope is a safe home located on the border of Turkey and Syria, in Reyhanli, where we provide food, clothes, healthcare and education to the orphans, as well as help the mothers up-skill to find work.

SKT Welfare will be distributing warm clothing, blankets and fuel to families in Pakistan, Gaza, Syria, Kashmir and here at home in the UK. For just £50, you can help make sure a family in need receive warmth and protection this winter.

Temperatures drop below freezing at night during the winter months, and many of Pakistan’s poorest and most vulnerable people just don’t have the money to buy winter clothes or blankets. Millions of the country’s poorest people live in fear that they won’t make it through the winter

Statistics

 

Food Hunger:

The world has more than enough food to feed every person, but over-indulgence means it doesn’t reach the most desperate members of society.

Globally, almost one in ten people facing hunger go to bed hungry every night. This includes children, youth, and older people.

In addition, three billion people cannot afford healthy, nutritious, and balanced meals due to poverty.

Food Waste:

In the UK alone, around 9.5 million tonnes of food are wasted every year.

According to WRAP (The Waste and Resources Action Programme), some of the most wasted foods are potatoes (both fresh and processed), bread, and carrots. Other most wasted food and drink in UK homes include the following:

• Milk
• Homemade and ready meals
• Fizzy drinks
• Fruit juice and smoothies
• Poultry

It is incredibly important to avoid over-buying food that you won’t eat, as this can go to someone who is more in need.

Hadiths About Eating Food

There are several hadiths from the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) about eating and food. These should act as a form of guidance for us to avoid food waste and ensure everyone is fed:

Allah’s Messenger said, “The food for two persons is sufficient for three, and the food of three persons is sufficient for four persons.” (Sahih al Bukhari 5392)

Another hadith states, ‘The Prophet (PBUH) never criticised any food (he was invited to), but he used to eat if he liked the food and leave it if he disliked it.’ (Sahih al Bukhari 5409)

In another hadith, The Messenger of Allah said: ‘A human being fills no worse vessel than his stomach. It is sufficient for a human being to eat a few mouthfuls to keep his spine straight. But if he must (fill it), then one-third of food, one-third for drink and one-third for air.’” (Sunan Ibn Majah 3349)

Feeding Others in Islam: Why Should We Do It?

In Islam, feeding others and providing for others is highly recommended. As Muslims, we should be helping those in need and giving what we have to others for Allah’s (SWT) sake.

We should be grateful for the blessings Allah (SWT) has given us, including food and water, and show gratitude through sharing with and providing for others.

In a hadith, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) mentioned: ‘None of you [truly] believes until he loves for his brother that which he loves for himself. (Al Bukhari) (Muslim)

Feeding others is a form of Sadaqah and means you are following the sunnah and practices of our beloved Prophet (PBUH). It is a means of investing in our afterlife to gain Allah’s (SWT) pleasure, Insha’Allah.

It can be Sadaqah Jariyah, too, with ongoing rewards: ’The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, ’No Muslim plants a tree or sows a seed and then a bird, or a human, or an animal eats from it but that it is charity for him’. [Muslim]

Provide Food to Those in Need – DONATE

You can provide Food Parcels for Orphans and Widows in countries throughout Asia and Africa to help the most impoverished and needy.

You can give online to charity through donating via Orphans in Need. We will use your donations to put together food parcels that can include rice, oil, lentils, flour, salt, sugar, and other essentials.

Just £35 can provide for a family in need for a whole month.

Donate generously to help our fellow brothers and sisters in the fight against hunger, including orphans.

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) emphasised the importance of caring for orphans in particular: “The best household among the Muslims is a household wherein an orphan is treated well. And the worst household among the Muslims is a household wherein an orphan is ill-treated” (Ibn Majah).

Your online donation will have a great impact, no matter how small.f