Dubai: The UAE Food Bank has collected 604 tonnes of food since its establishment in January until mid-November, Dubai Municipality said on Wednesday.
The figure was announced during a meeting of the board of trustees of the UAE Food Bank, held on the directives of Shaikha Hind Bint Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum, chairperson of the bank and wife of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Meanwhile, the total number of beneficiaries in the same period reached 80,000 workers, 12,000 families, and 5,000 workers in distress. The bank also distributed 170,000 cooked meals.
The UAE Food Bank was launched by Shaikh Mohammad in conjunction with the celebrations marking the 11th anniversary of his Accession Day (January 4). The bank collects surplus fresh and canned food from hotels, restaurants, hospitality establishments, farms, food factories and food product markets. It has an organisational mechanism that includes supervisory and monitoring bodies in accordance with the approved health safety standards in Dubai. It distributes food inside and outside the country in cooperation with a network of local and international charity and humanitarian organisations.
Its board recently met under the chairmanship of Hussain Nasser Lootah, director-general of Dubai Municipality, at the Dubai World Trade Centre on the sidelines of the Dubai International Food Safety Conference. The meeting was attended by senior officials from various government and private establishments.
The meeting covered a number of topics, including the bank’s functions and objectives, achievements since its establishment, the planned initiatives as well as the future strategy.
Lootah pointed out the importance of learning the best practices around the world to develop the bank’s business system and operational plans, thus enhancing the role of the bank in the UAE and abroad.
He said that the 2018 work plan will focus on coordination with the other emirates to establish UAE Food Bank collection sites.
Lootah added that the focus will be on a range of projects that serve the bank’s objectives, and it is important to develop initiatives outside the country and help the affected countries.
He also directed officials to develop a marketing plan for UAE Food Bank in coordination with Dubai Media Incorporated and present it at the next meeting, adding that Dubai Municipality will cover all administrative matters and expenses of UAE Food Bank.
The meeting witnessed a suggestion that the community be involved in competitions that will contribute to the development of the food bank’s work mechanism, focusing on marketing campaigns and promoting its initiatives.
It also discussed enhancing the sponsorships during the next phase with the participation of the members of the Board of Trustees and start communication with the large establishments, companies, banks and businessmen to invite them to sponsor the projects of the food bank.
A proposal was made to organise meetings during the World Government Summit next year, and to study the possibility of signing agreements with some countries.
The report on the main achievements of the bank highlighted the proposal for a new site for the Hatta region.
