Doha: Since the beginning of this year, donations collected from the remaining dirhams during purchases at Al Meera branches, reached about QR75,000 donated to Qatar Charity (QC).
While the total value of donations since activating the dirhams donation service (through cashiers at 41 branches in Qatar) reached over QR300,000, supporting QC community development projects at home and abroad.
The donation is part of wider contribution facilitated by agreements with QC since 2012 with malls, allowing donations of remaining dirhams (coins) from shoppers while purchasing.
Donated coins are added to customer billings and accredited to QC account later. Over time, the value of the project has proved its viability, seeing the donations, proving the great influence small change can have on beneficiaries among the poor and needy.
Ali Atiq Al Abdullah, Executive Director, Local Development, QC, said that the continuation of the project testifies the impact of donations even if small.
Last year, donations of 25 and 50 dirhams from shoppers to QC account reached around QR230,000.
Since the beginning of this year, donation reached QR75,000, taking the total to QR300,000. It is a large amount for many projects that support the needy and poor families whose daily income may not exceed a few riyals.
Al Abdullah praised and thanked Al Meera for continuous cooperation and contributions to QC for humanitarian and charitable work. Last Ramadan, Al Meera provided six additional sites to QC for donation collection desks, making it easier for donors.
Al Abdullah said the money collected was devoted to QC projects at home and abroad, especially feeding and watering projects.
Dr. Mohammed Nasser Al Qahtani, Executive Vice-President, Al Meera, said: “We are delighted about our contribution to support community activities, initiatives and events that reflect the commitment of Al Meera to society in Qatar.
“Our partnership with QC is of much interest to us as we consider that the most important thing for institutions is to recognise the need for synergies between them to spread innovative giving concepts.
“At Al Meera, we strive to achieve balance between our work in the retail sector and our duty towards the less fortunate groups around us, and are always ready to renew cooperation with QC and other associate humanitarian institutions to help those in need.”
People can contribute at Al Meera branches by asking cashiers to add a donation with the change value to their bills. Donations made at sale points are collected and transferred to QC by the end of each month.
Believing in the important role of community partnerships and collaboration, and the social corporate responsibility, QC has signed similar agreements with banks, companies and institutions to achieve communal values, contributing to community development and charitable giving for the needy across the world.
The Peninsula
