BEIRUT, April 8 (Xinhua) -- In the southern Lebanese city of Sidon, an elderly woman named Hikmat Ankouni often visits the "Popular Kitchen," an initiative that provides meals to those in need, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.
In the kitchen, Ankouni helps a team of dedicated volunteers who prepare meals for those struggling to feed themselves amidst the steep economic crisis that has plagued Lebanon since 2019.
"I visit the kitchen in my free time during Ramadan and other times to support this vital initiative during this challenging time," Ankouni said, as she peeled onions that would soon be added to a chicken and rice dish.
By helping in the charitable kitchen, Ankouni could also get some free food, which is vital for the elder woman, who has to take care of her ailing husband and three grandchildren.
Lebanon has been grappling with a severe financial crisis since October 2019, with more than 80 percent of the population living in poverty. Under these dire circumstances, various initiatives have emerged to provide support to the most vulnerable members of society.
"We started providing services around four years ago by offering around 400 to 500 meals daily to people in need," the kitchen's manager Sanaa Dabagh told Xinhua.
Dabagh said the kitchen employs volunteers, who in turn can benefit from the meals, creating a mutually beneficial arrangement. Donations of food products and funds from local organizations, families, and friends are crucial in sustaining the kitchen's operations.
Another notable initiative, the "Al-Aman" foundation, meaning "security" in Arabic, has launched a similar effort in the Al-Arqoub area of southern Lebanon. The foundation has collected funds from generous donors, including Lebanese and Arab expatriates and businesspeople, to finance their kitchen and provide meals to vulnerable individuals during Ramadan.
"Our invitation received a quick response, enabling us to offer meals to the people in need since the first day of Ramadan despite the current crisis," Jamil Daher, head of the foundation, told Xinhua.
In the eastern town of Rashaya, an initiative called "We Will Stay With You" has been launched to extend a helping hand to those in need. Youth volunteers have come together to collect donations, including financial aid and in-kind items, which are then distributed to vulnerable patients in the hospital.
"Our goal is to alleviate patients' pain as much as possible and help them pay their hospital bills," Tarek Issa, an activist in this initiative, told Xinhua. ■
