Since the beginning of the this year, the value of donations collected from the remaining dirhams while purchasing at Almeera branches, reached approximately QR75,000 donated to Qatar Charity. While the total value of donations since activating the dirhams donation service (through cashiers at 41 Almeera branches in Qatar) reached more than three hundred thousand Qatari Riyals, helping  Qatar Charity while supporting community development projects at home and abroad.

The donation comes as a part of wider contribution facilitated by a series of agreements that has been entered by Qatar Charity since 2012 with malls, allowing the donations of the remaining Dirhams (coins) from shoppers while purchasing. Donated coins are added to customer billings and accredited to the account of Qatar Charity later on. Over the time, the value of this project proves its viability, while seeing the results of those donations, proving the great influence that small change can do on the beneficiaries among the poor and needy.

Fruitful Cooperation

For his part, Mr. Ali Atiq Al Abdullah Executive Director for Local Development in Qatar Charity stated that the continuation of this project testifies the impact of the donations even if it is little.

In 2015, the donations of (25 and 50dirhams) coming from shoppers in the account of Qatar Charity reached around QR230,000. Since the beginning of this year and so far, the donation reached up to QR75,000. Bringing the total donations to QR300,000 coming from dirhams. It is a large amount for many of the projects that supports the lives of needy and poor families, which their daily income may not exceed a few riyals.

Al Abdullah praised and thanked Al Meera for their continuous cooperating and effective contributions to QC on humanitarian and charitable work. Last Ramadan, Al Meera had provided six additional sites to QC for donation collection desks, making it easier for the donors to donate. Further, Al Abdullah added that the money collected were devoted to Qatar Charity projects at home and abroad, especially projects of (feeding and watering) which has the great reward from (Allah swt), being vital to the beneficiaries assuring their basic needs.

For his part, deputy CEO of Al Meera , Dr. Mohammed Nasser Al Qahtani said:

"We are delighted about our contribution to support many community activities, initiatives and events that reflect the commitment of Al Meera  towards the society in our beloved country. Our partnership with Qatar Charity is of much interest to us as we consider that the most important thing to various institutions is to recognize the deep need for synergies between them in order to spread innovative giving concepts. In Al Meera, we always strive to achieve balance between our work in the retail sector and our duty toward the less fortunate groups around us, and are always ready to renew cooperation with Qatar Charity and Other associate humanitarian institutions to extend a helping hand to those in need of it. "

Small Change, Big Change

Donors can easily contribute to the project at different branches of Al Meera by asking the cashiers to add a donation with the change value to their bills. Donations made at all sale points are collected and transferred by the end of each month to Qatar Charity.

Believing in the important role of community partnerships and collaboration, and the social responsibility of corporates, Qatar Charity had signed several similar agreements with a number of banks, companies and institutions to achieve communal values, contributing to community development and charitable giving for many of those in need around the world.