Madinah: During the first days of Ramadan, the Grace Conservation Association in Madinah actively helped in collecting thousands of surplus iftar meals at the Prophet's Mosque, as part of its efforts to make organized and safe use of excess food and minimize waste.
According to Saudi Press Agency, from Ramadan 1 to 5, the association reported collecting a total of 22,638 meals, along with 17,250 yogurt cups, 17,172 bottles of water, 98,777 bread packets, 15,796 packs of dates, 16,185 duqqa packets, 15,596 maamoul (date-filled cookies) packs, and 1,900 pastry packs.
The estimated value of the collected items during the first five days of Ramadan reached SAR203,742, the association said, reflecting the extensive efforts made to redirect surplus food and maximize its benefit.
To limit food waste, a total of 160 volunteers contributed 2,509 volunteer hours, supported by eight vehicles and 250 specialized collection and organization bags. Relevant authorities at the mosque aided in the efforts, supporting integrated volunteer work and promoting a culture of food preservation.
The initiative enhances services provided to visitors of the mosque in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to support volunteer work and maximize its societal impact.