With Eid right around the corner, communities around the world are rallying together to help those in need.
One organization that isn't skimping on time or money is Emirates Red Crescent, which is set to distribute more than AED45 million worth of food and clothes-- and it's not only in the UAE. 200,000 families in need will be receive the food and clothes in countries around the world right in time for Eid Al Adha.
One of the main items on the distribution list is meat, which is an Islamic tradition for the holiday. According to The National, nearly 18,000 goats from the UAE and abroad will be butchered to feed the families. Emirates Red Crescent is running this years campaign with the theme of "Their Happiness Makes our Eid."
"The point is to make a child who could not afford new clothes happy, and to provide a joyful meal to a family who was deprived of meat," said Mohammed Al Remeithi, acting head of local affairs at the charity.
Donations are welcome to help offset costs and provide even more to those in need. A donation of just AED550 can provide one goat and pay for the distribution of its meat to families in the UAE. To help families abroad, it only costs AED350.
In addition to the UAE, families in Bahrain, Jordan, Morocco, Sudan, Senegal, Uganda, India, the Philippines, Maldives, Thailand, China will also benefit from the campaign.
An Emirates Red Crescent spokesperson spoke about the annual donation period: "One would be surprised to find out how many families cannot afford meat there. Even in the United States you'll find many."
"Regardless of the obstacles or distances, the Emirates Red Crescent is always leading the way to grant the wish of deprived children or needy families," he said.