DEARBORN, Mich. — Nadine Daoud found herself reflecting on the abundance of untouched food following nightly iftar meals with her family during Ramadan. Observing her grandmother’s fridge stocked with pots and trays of leftover food that were soon forgotten or wasted, she felt compelled to take action.
In 2017, this realization inspired the creation of The Helping Handzzz Foundation. The organization gathers volunteers each year during the Islamic holy month to collect surplus food from families in Dearborn. The city, where nearly half of the 110,000 residents are of Arab descent, becomes a source of support for people experiencing homelessness in nearby Detroit.
Daoud highlighted that their initiative embodies the Islamic principles of valuing resources like food and aligns with Ramadan’s focus on self-discipline and empathy for those less fortunate.
“Every family prepares a large feast to break their fast,” Daoud explained. “A significant portion of this food remains uneaten and is often stored away or discarded. We’ve decided to change that dynamic by providing it to those in need, serving it with a drink and a small treat.”
Recently, Helping Handzzz board members Hussein Sareini, Daoud Wehbi, and four others gathered for iftar prepared by Sareini’s mother. Following the meal, they performed the daily prayers and promptly loaded Sareini’s truck with untouched dishes collected from various homes. They then moved to the parking lot of a nearby mosque, where Daoud and others organized the food for distribution.
The group transported the food through a caravan of vehicles to locations in Detroit where individuals without housing are known to gather. Board member Mariam Hachem approached one man, bundled in blankets on the sidewalk, offering him a meal she placed nearby.
“Hi, we have a meal for you,” she informed him. “We’ll set it right here, OK?” Another volunteer added bottled water and a sweet treat to accompany the meal.
This dedicated team repeats the process six nights a week during Ramadan, resting only on Sundays. This effort follows a day-long fast from dawn until dusk.
Wehbi, a 27-year-old design engineer at Toyota, and Sareini, a residential remodeler of kitchens and bathrooms, both call Dearborn home. Sareini, 25, expressed his enthusiasm for spending his evenings serving others, staying out until 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. to spread goodwill.
“It’s all about appreciating what you have,” he shared.
For Wehbi, the alignment of their charitable initiative with Ramadan is intentional. “It’s not just about abstaining from food and drink,” he noted. “It’s a time for personal growth, community cohesion, and mutual betterment.”