Canadian Volunteers Spread Eid Cheer with Presents for Kids in Need
The volunteers spent hours over the weekend wrapping up the toys they collected from their toy drive.
"It feels more real when it's right in front of you. You can see all the toys instead of just an amount of money that you're sending," said Niah Fiorino, one of the volunteers, CBC reported.
"It's so much more hands on than like active fundraising for different events. So I really like that we're actually folding — we're actually wrapping the gifts."
The presents are meant to celebrate Eid al-Adha, a special holiday for Muslims that is focused on giving to those in need.
Eid, which falls on June 28 this year, is a time when kids usually receive gifts or money from their family or relatives.
The Waterloo region volunteers are part of a bigger initiative by Islamic Relief Canada to deliver Eid presents to kids living in about 15 different cities.
Rola Alshaer, the fundraising coordinator for Islamic Relief Canada who led the local team, said it was wonderful to personalize the presents for the kids.
"It's great to be involved with it and to know exactly what specific toys are going to specific kids and that they are, you know, customized to them and what they would like," she said.
"I think it's special, not just for us but for the kids. It's a reminder to them that we are there for them and that we are here to support them."
She said the presents will be handed out throughout this week to children in need through Muslim Social Services of Waterloo Region.
The volunteers made sure to include a variety of toys like basketballs, puzzles and dolls that matched the kids' ages and interests.
"The smile on their faces is just great to see and they're always so excited," Alshaer said. "I just hope that they like the gifts, honestly."
Source: Agencies
