Canberra Daily had a special visitor last week: Helping ACT’s Mohammed Ali, proudly displaying the charity’s new delivery van. The silver people mover with cheerful yellow livery replaced Mr Ali’s black van, which broke down beyond repair late last year.
For three years, Mr Ali and friends have distributed food and other goods to Canberrans in need. The public well knows the good work Helping ACT does – and when Mr Ali needed help in his turn, they were glad to help, and did so generously.
“We were heartbroken when the black van that I had donated to HelpingACT three years ago died,” Mr Ali said. “There was a great feeling of helplessness amid increasing demand of food due to the omicron wave.”
The charity’s board decided to ask the people of Canberra to help them get back on the road, so they could continue their deliveries of free food to vulnerable people.
Mr Ali set up a GoFundMe page aiming to raise $20,000 – and raised $10,000 more. In a period of three weeks, Mr Ali said, HelpingACT received $30,000.
Enough to buy a Honda Odyssey seven-seater from Canberra Toyota in Phillip, and a trailer, too.
“Canberrans opened their hearts, for which I, my committee members, and our volunteers are extremely thankful,” Mr Ali said. “It will be impossible to forget this kindness.”
Many families and individuals from Canberra and broader Australia supported the cause, Mr Ali said, while substantial donations came from ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr (a special government grant of $5,000) and the Uniting Mirinjani Weston ACT aged care home residents ($2,500).
“We all are living in a strange time,” Mr Ali said. “Refugees, asylum seekers, COVID–related hardships, and increase in domestic violence and other related issues. Amid all these strange things, any good news story revitalises, re-energises us to reaffirm our belief in human values.
“Thank you, all #KenBehrens! You have helped HelpingACT to reaffirm its belief in fragrance rather than thorns, in the beauty of life and in working together to make life more beautiful.”
Mr Ali thanked Canberra Toyota in Phillip for their generous deductions, and Mirko and Amir Hyatti for their support throughout.
He also thanked the St Vincent de Paul Society and other volunteers who lent cars and helped deliver food in the interim.
“Canberra, thank you for your trust and support,” Mr Ali said. “I remain indebted. HelpingACT remains indebted.”
