Muslim women distribute food among bushfire victims in Australia
As wildfires raged in Australia, the women members of the Australian Islamic Centre traveled for hours to help their fellow countrymen.
Read: Australia bushfires: Rain brings relief but huge blazes expected
According to CNN, a group from a Melbourne suburb brought five trucks of donated supplies and raised $1,500 only in 48 hours.
Along with other volunteers, the women traveled for more than four hours to distribute the supplies among the bushfire victims, said Rashid Elhouli, who oversees online public relations for the AIC.
But that’s not it, the women traveled further. When they reached the Johnsonville area, the Muslim women cooked breakfast for 150 firefighters.
“[I] extend the thanks from the fire affected areas,” Rodney Baylis, a Johnsvonville firefighter, is heard telling them in a video posted on Facebook.
“I just been on the phone to the captain down there and he nearly broke into tears when I told him what we are bringing in for them today.”
The Australian firefighters have been working tirelessly to control the raging bushfires. Over 2,000 homes have been destroyed or damaged in New South Wales this fire season, CNN reported.
Elhouli said they started making plans to help people after speaking to the Melbourne Fire Brigade.
With the help of social media, AIC spread the word out that it was collecting supplies such as female hygiene products, water bottles, milk, baby wipes and fresh supplies.
The centre hosted a fundraiser, after the Friday prayers. They sell plates of food to raise money. The event was originally scheduled for their youth program.
“The money was meant to go towards girls youth activities,” Elhouli said. “But they decided to donate it all to the bushfire appeal.”
Early Saturday, the caravan of five trucks filled with donations set out on its journey.
After feeding the firefighters, the Melbourne Fire Brigade escorted the volunteers to distribute those items in different areas.
