Dozens of the poorest households in a Birmingham inner city suburb have received a seasonal boost from local charity workers.
The Balsall Heath Forum and Islamic Help carried out a winter food distribution targeting local pensioners, the disabled and vulnerable households. Nearly 60 packs were distributed in the two days before Christmas Day to ensure residents had some added food security to help them through the festive period.
The food was donated by Islamic Help, a Balsall Heath-based international NGO which works around the world, and the households were chosen by the Forum based on a needs criterion. The items included tinned foods, condiments, rice, pasta, biscuits and tea.
“We carry out this distribution every winter to help the most vulnerable of our neighbours and to let them know that people do care about them,” said an Islamic Help spokesman.
“Some of the beneficiaries are in really dire circumstances and many have no one to look after them, so they are really struggling. It was heartening to see their reactions when they received the food items – some were in tears and said they were so happy to know that they had not been abandoned and forgotten.”
