NIDA Community Services helps people who are homeless, vulnerable and disadvantaged within the UK and developing countries.
NIDA’s mission is “working towards the betterment of humanity”, coordinating volunteers from across the UK to do this.
At the start of the Covid-19 crisis, NIDA joined forces with eight other partnering organisations, including SLMCC – Sri Lanka Mosque Cultural Centre, to form the Harrow Covid-19 Support Group. Their main objective is to provide support for the elderly, vulnerable and key workers.
The Harrow Covid-19 group has a helpline for those who people self-isolating who are over 60. Giving them the opportunity to requests care packs (include essential everyday items such as pasta, tinned soup and vegetables and soap). It has become a lifeline wherein a typical week, 68 care packages are delivered.
In April, Harrow Giving awarded a grant to NIDA Community services for their emergency fund. It was used for goody bags, containing harder to find items such as dried fruit, flour and eggs. Irshad, a volunteer from NIDA, conveyed:
“It has helped us to reach out and support even more deserving people within the community during these unprecedented times. One family who has been in self-isolation told me that our support meant that they had enough food for the week, which made them smile.”
Additionally, NIDA has benefited by receiving Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from Ummah Welfare Trust, which has been donated to the Harrow Foodbank and other local community hubs. NIDA has also kindly offered this PPE to Northwick Park Hospital.
Of course, none of this vital community work would be possible without the army of volunteers. Harrow Covid-19 Support Group relies on the help of 80 volunteers. These fantastic volunteers sort, pack, deliver and answer calls, follow up with enquiries and admin work. Plus, they devote their time to volunteer at the food bank regularly. Community support has never been needed more, as one volunteer acknowledged:
“I’m very happy to be part of the volunteering team to help much-needed groups for the good of the community.”
Harrow Giving is delighted that it has been able to help aid this much needed, fantastic community initiative.