Desk-bound professionals, mid-level executives, managers, students, young children and mothers have been rushing to Adhaaf Sports Club in Al Quoz after office and school hours. They are volunteers who have committed to render 10,000 hours to pack and distribute boxes of essential food to thousands of underprivileged families across the UAE as part of du's annual Mawaed Al Rahman initiative.

One of them is British-Egyptian expat Ahmed Ali, 29, who just arrived in Dubai last month. He tells Khaleej Times that the highlight of his day during Ramadan is his volunteer work.

He works as a construction manager at Vekon Middle East and stays at the office from 9am-3pm, then heads straight to Al Quoz before 5pm. He joins other volunteers like him who pack in a re-usable box: 10kg of rice, 1kg of lentil, 400g of macaroni, 400g of vermicelli, two tins of ful (broad beans), two tins of tuna, 800g of tomato paste, 500g orange juice, 100 tea bags, 1kg salt, 2kg sugar, and 1.8 litres of oil.

Every day since the start of Ramadan, at least 100 volunteers show up at Adhaaf's indoor football pitch to prepare around 1,200 boxes. Their target is to finish 16,000 boxes before June 15 while another team is in charge of distributing the charity packs to around 4,000 families in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.

"So far, we've finished more than 6,000 boxes," Ali told Khaleej Times on Wednesday afternoon. "It has been exhausting, of course, because I and the other volunteers have also been fasting and we have to ensure that boxes are packed ahead of schedule and ready for distribution. But it is also very fulfilling. This is what we are passionate about - helping others," he added.

Ali is also busy promoting on his Twitter account (@ahmedali12374) what they are doing to encourage more volunteers.

Meanwhile, for young buddies Derin, 9; Josephine, 8; Aren, 7; and Sophie, 7, volunteerism is also fun. Just like playing - but with a purpose - they run from one table to another to pick up the food packs and arrange them properly in a box.

Proud of what they are doing, brothers Derin and Aren said they are very happy about helping underprivileged families, especially the kids of their age.

"At least for us, we have a good life but I see poor people who work under the sun - and it's so hot outside ­- so they can have money to buy food. I hope the food we are packing will help them this Ramadan," Derin said with pure conviction.

Josephine, whose family lives in Palm Jumeirah, added: "I am a Christian but I understand what Ramadan is - and that is about sharing and helping others, especially those who are poor and not healthy."

Khalid Mahmoud, du sales director, enterprise, said "it's fantastic to see volunteers and our local partners supporting and helping our less fortunate brothers and sisters. This proves that 'kindness lives on' in this part of the world".

Those who want to volunteer can do so by registering at www.du.ae/ramadan.

Source: Khaleej Times