‘My Greatest Wish Is That No One Goes Hungry’: Meet the ‘Bearded Broz’
A Birmingham-based community group known as The Bearded Broz, who collect food and deliver it to people who have fallen on hard times, helped to feed over 9,500 families last year. We think (and we’re sure you’ll agree) this is a pretty epic feat which deserves global recognition. Hence why we’ve decided to talk about it on Ummahsonic. (OK – global-ish recognition.)
Focusing their efforts on the West Midlands, the Bearded Broz run a 24-hour emergency food bank. As well as feeding those who’ve found it difficult to support themselves, they work with the local authorities to tackle other social issues such as fly tipping and speeding.
Imran Hameed and Naveed Sadiq are the co-founders of the community group. ‘We make sure that no one goes to sleep hungry,’ Imran, a father of two, told the local press. ‘We deliver food to people’s doorsteps.’
‘It’s a part of our religion,’ he added. ‘A Muslim is not a Muslim if he sleeps at night satisfied while his neighbour goes hungry.’ (For those who agree with this sentiment, please refer to the volunteering section of this recent New Year’s Resolution blog.)
And if you’re reading this and are neither ‘bearded’ nor a ‘bro’: fear not – Imran and Nav, who founded Bearded Broz last year, are keen to point out that despite the name the group is by no means exclusive to men or those with beards – they want everyone to get involved. And tbf they need as many volunteers as possible; sometimes they deliver up to 64 care packages in a single day.
The food packages provided by the group contain non-perishable essential items (including tinned beans, pasta, tins of tuna, long life milk, biscuits, rice pudding and sugar) to help combat hunger.
There are plenty of people in the local community who will never forget The Bearded Broz and their altruistic activities. ‘Some people burst into tears at the doorstep when we arrive with food because they haven’t eaten in days,’ Imran explained.
‘My greatest wish for 2018 is that no one in the United Kingdom goes hungry.’
Some of the people who have used the service have even gone on to volunteer with the project. ‘We have a full-time lady by the name of Jodie who was helped,’ Imran says.
Jodie, a 29-year-old from Erdington, became homeless and was living in short-term accommodation when she heard about the Bearded Broz and their service.
‘We found an ad on Facebook for The Bearded Broz, messaged them and within half an hour I had a phone call from Imran himself,’ she said.
‘He brought us a food parcel that day and continued to help the homeless hostel where I was living at the time.
She added: ‘Shortly after, I managed to get myself back on my feet again.’ Jodie now spends her time at the group’s head office helping people in need.
For more info on the amazing work the Bearded Broz get up to, check out their website.
Featured image credit: Bearded Broz via Facebook
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