Over 40 Student Clubs Assemble 6,000 Food Packs for Ramadan
Over forty student clubs collaborated with the Office of Student Life to create food packs for families in need this Ramadan
A total of 42 student organizations as well as members of the First-Year Experience program assembled 6,000 food packs on campus in an initiative organized by the Office of Student Life. This year’s collaboration created almost double the number of food packs from last year.
United by a desire to do good, a human conveyor belt of students assembled pasta, rice, oil and lentils into bags to be distributed to families in need in Heliopolis. “I personally came because I wanted to give back to the community,” said psychology senior Mariam Elbatran, a member of the Political Science Students Association.
Rawan Sherif is a junior studying electronics and communications engineering at the University, and serves as the vice president of Resala AUC. She has attended every Ramadan packing event for three years in a row and has helped distribute the packs in Heliopolis. The act of giving is what keeps her coming back. “Seeing the happiness on people’s faces and seeing how they truly live is really touching. I think this is one of the things that keep me going to be honest.”
After the packing, students joined President Ahmad Dallal and Dean of Students Yorgun Marcel for a community iftar in the AUC amphitheater. The Musicana student organization performed Ramadan songs and created a festive atmosphere.
Help came from all corners of the AUC community. Pilar Jordan, a junior studying abroad from Wayne State University in Michigan, came to Ramadan packing to support the community she has found in Egypt. “I decided to join because there are so many people outside of compounds and this community that don’t have the resources to get what they need. So as long as I’m able to walk, I’m able to give back.”
Ramadan packing has been a longstanding tradition at AUC. Sophomore Salma Hagras, vice president of the Help Club, attended her first Ramadan packing last year, and the event’s combination of good energy and community service brought her back.
“Even last year, I brought my sister. She’s out of University but came to help. I really love how people gather to do khayr (good),” Hagras said.
As many members of the student body were fasting while packing, mechanical engineering senior Karim Elzahby felt positive energy through the shared experience.
“The community here is really connected. We have an intrinsic bond we didn’t know existed between us, and it's coming out all here.”
It was also a great opportunity to put Elzahby gym gains to use. “It’s really great using all the power I’ve been gathering in the gym, channeling it here feels like I’m benefitting people. There’s a greater good.”
