Shoppers make a difference in MAF malls' Ramadan charity drive

More than 70,000 items, ranging from clothes to used mobile phones, were donated during the shopping centres' 'Make a Difference this Ramadan' campaign.

The four malls, Mall of the Emirates, Deira City Centre, Sharjah City Centre and Ajman City Centre, collected no less than 19,845 bags of clothes; 39, 791 books; 890 used spectacles and 349 used mobiles phones in this the second year of its charity drive. The Kempinski Hotel - Mall of the Emirates, also boosted the donations by contributing more than 10,000 items from its 'Lost and Found' department.

Shoppers were invited to bring their unwanted items to the four malls throughout the Holy Month of Ramadan, and now these donations have been passed on to local charitable organisations.

Books and clothing went to UAE Red Crescent Society, used spectacles to Al Ihsan Medical Complex and used mobile phones to EnviroFone, an international organisation that repairs old mobiles and distributes them for free to African countries.

Fareed AbdelRahman, Vice President - Divisional Asset Manager for MAF Shopping Malls, said:

"It's a great feeling to know that so many of our shoppers have shared our sentiments and have contributed to making a difference to the lives of those in need this Ramadan. We would like to thank them for their generosity."

One shopper, Michelle D'Souza, a 35-year-old marketing executive was extremely happy to learn of donations being collected for used mobiles and eye glasses at her favourite mall.

She said:

"There are so many times I wonder what to do with these old items. This charity campaign gave me the opportunity to donate these items to worthy causes."