Shaymaa Elkadi - The Humble Mission (”Dignity Matters”)
The idea started when Shaymaa first saw a huge amount of Bakers Delight bread being thrown away and she found it unsettling that all this food was being wasted when she knew that there were people in desperate need of it. So during lock-down, she gathered this and drove around Melbourne delivering it to the needy. She then set-up a regular distribution point under Flinders Street station and gave away not only bread but also her home cooked pasta and her Mum’s rice pudding.
Shaymaa used Instagram to promote her service and as people followed her, so some of these began cooking food themselves and dropping it off at helpers’ locations. They went from cooking 2kgs of sausages each week to now 15kgs and they also listened to people’s requests about other food requirements.
Seeing her success, a number of celebrities helped to raise $50K in three months so that she was able to buy a van and now do deliveries to various locations. In addition to their standard basic food offering, they now also provide fruit and vegetables, toiletries, health stations, deodorant, feminine hygiene products as well as access to a doctor occasionally.
The offering has grown organically (there was no formal design or plan) and they now have 480 volunteers supporting the work.
It is important to Shaymaa that individual’s dignity is preserved so recipients can choose what they want, no one is told what they need.
Marcus suggested that the Club may help out one week.
Also, The Humble Mission has been nominated for Commbank's Local Community Program. Our members can help by voting for them using the link below. Nominations close on 31st March. The Humble Mission is run by volunteers and donations so opportunities like this would go a long way for small organisations like theirs. Please don't forget to assist and vote.
When you click the link, it will ask for the location. If you type in 'Brunswick' it brings up 'The Humble Mission'. You can then submit your vote.
