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Weekly meals for elderly neighbors in Heliopolis

The Open Hands Pantry pantry in Heliopolis is running low just as demand rises; $600 will stock it for 10 weeks.

🇪🇬 Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt1,624 views
Amal Tawfik
Email verifiedDriver licence verifiedPhoto verified
Heliopolis
Since 2023, our volunteer team has run Open Hands Pantry every Friday from the back of a community center. We started with 10 families, and now we feed 360 each week. Donations have dropped by about 54% this winter, while the line has grown every single week. We rely on volunteers - 8 of us - and keep no salaries or overhead. I buy staples at wholesale prices at the Heliopolis market and keep every receipt. Each $5 feeds a family of four for a week. I'll post the weekly shopping receipts and a photo of the shelves each Sunday. Where the $600 goes: • Rice, beans, flour and oil (wholesale): $320 • Fresh vegetables and fruit: $165 • Baby formula and diapers: $65 • Refrigeration and electricity: $50 I'll keep this page updated with receipts as things happen.

Updates from Amal

  1. Thank you all. We're at 92% now ($551). I'm honestly stunned. the first invoice got paid this week.

  2. Quick update: $220 raised so far (37%). I met with the wholesaler and confirmed the amounts. Receipts coming as soon as I have them.

  • Sabina Salma Majumder 🇧🇩 · $75
  • Ethan T. Welch 🇺🇸 · $25
  • Cláudia Mariana Freitas 🇧🇷 · $20
  • Skylar Lawson 🇦🇺 · $25

    “I'm in Brisbane, thinking of you.”

  • Hanna Fikir Tilahun 🇪🇹 · $25
  • Ratna Maya Harahap 🇮🇩 · $11

    “Take care of yourselves. Thought of Amal all day after reading this.”

  • Darshan N. Gandhi 🇮🇳 · $50
  • Jose B. Brooks 🇺🇸 · $10

    “You got this! - Saint Paul”

  • Selamawit Sosina Ayele 🇪🇹 · $10
  • Farhana Ishrat Chatterjee 🇧🇩 · $100
  • Anonymous 🇺🇸 · $100

    “Be well. This is from my last paycheck, glad to do it. - Seattle”

  • Ikenna Samuel Abdullahi 🇳🇬 · $5
  • Anonymous 🇮🇳 · $25

    “Praying for you. Hope the December deadline works out.”

  • Yared Dereje Hagos 🇪🇹 · $41

    “Hope this covers a bit of it. - Gondar”

  • Iván S. Delgado 🇨🇴 · $50
  • Mahesh T. Kashyap 🇮🇳 · $10

    “Thought of Amal all day after reading this.”

  • Wanjiru Ruth Kessy 🇰🇪 · $20

    “Happy to help. - Kisumu”

  • Ramesh M. Singh 🇬🇧 · $100
  • Lena Greta Frank 🇩🇪 · $25

    “Saw your post and had to give. - Dresden”

  • Esteban R. Fuentes 🇲🇽 · $50

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  • any update on how things are going in Heliopolis?

    • Rooting for you, Amal. Shared it with a few friends. I have a 13 year old who wants to send good wishes too. Blessings.

      • is there a list of costs somewhere? Just curious how it adds up for Amal.

        • Amal TawfikOwnerAnswerID verifiedPhoto verified

          The list at the bottom is the whole picture. rice, beans, flour and oil (wholesale) is the biggest at $320. Happy to explain more.

      • Andriy Taras ZakharovPhoto verified

        Wishing you the best. Hope the build day goes well, wish I lived closer. My neighbor in Bangkok donated after I showed her your page. Thinking of Heliopolis.

        • Hang in there. Looking forward to the next update. Greetings from Kawasaki.

          • Projects like this are what make a place worth living in.

            • Is there anything that isn't money that would help Amal?

              • Amal TawfikOwnerAnswerID verifiedPhoto verified

                Thank you. If you're in Heliopolis I'll say if something practical comes up. For now sharing this is great. I'll keep the page updated.

            • Sending love. Shared this with my family. It's not much but it's yours. All the best

              • Thinking of you, Amal. Your post was clear and honest. My neighbor in Marseille donated after I showed her your page. Blessings

                • best of luck. Your post was clear and honest. We're a small family in Breda but we're thinking of you!

                  • Ananya C. KapoorID verified

                    Rooting for you. Hope this works out for you. My neighbor in Southampton donated after I showed her your page. Blessings

                    • So sorry you're going through this. Hope this works out for you. I hope December is when things finally get easier. All the best.

                      • Praying for you. Great idea, hope you get there. Put this on a community board in Bang Khen this morning. Thinking of Heliopolis.

                        $792 raised of $600

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