“Let’s Spread Love Together,” says the banner on the side the Love With Humanity minivan, owned by Syed Hassan. Currently, this van distributes “care hampers” all over Calgary, Canada.
The grassroots organization started off as a small multicultural library. Soon, it grew into a 24/7 food bank that now provides “food hampers,” reusable bags of groceries, to those affected by the pandemic.
Hassan’s charity has expanded as much as possible to meet the rising needs of their community. With Covid-19 still keeping many at home – especially the at-risk and elderly – he and his volunteers have their hands full.
Syed Hassan Provides Food with Care
“This is a good time for love and helping,” says Hassan. “It’s a difficult time.” Joined by a few volunteers, Hassan has undertaken the task of easing the burden of the pandemic on those who need it most. The recipients of his work include those who may not have a strong support network or the opportunity to get groceries and other supplies for themselves. The food hampers contain flowers and a card, in addition to multiple days’ worth of groceries. Hassan and volunteers have now delivered hundreds of food hampers.
This charity takes place through Love With Humanity, running out of Calgary, with Hassan at the helm. The drop-offs are currently occurring only on weekends due to volunteer and resource availability. The organization has been “flooded” with requests for their service.
“When we receive the messages over social media… we forward these messages to our volunteers, wherever they are,” explains Hassan.
The Love With Humanity Association Has Evolved Over Time
Hassan has a history of helping his community. According to The Star, Hassan not only spent ten years volunteering with workers facing “workplace injustices,” but also created a self-organized ambulance service with his friends during college due to a shortage of official ambulances in Karachi, Pakistan.
In Calgary, Hassan started with a multicultural library which got the attention of many local news sources and the BBC. He told the publication, “I’ve always wanted to do things for people.” Hassan even received the Special Recognition Award from the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau.
The “care hampers” grew out of the lawn library’s descendant, a community food bank in front of Hassan’s house that started in 2019. Hassan describes the system, “take a blessing, leave a blessing.”
The shelves he set up in front of his house will be self-serve and fully stocked, and next to them stands a cabinet for donations for people to be able to both give and take. Hassan also established a multicultural library in his front lawn with his children, as well as in three other towns. His goal, however, wasn’t just a library and food bank, but a community space in his yard. During the summer, he served tea and samosas to visitors, of whom there were about 100 a day at the time.
Thanks and Praise for Syed Hassan
Hassan asks for no thanks other than the satisfaction of helping others. Nevertheless, the recipients of his kindness have flocked to support him and his work.
“It really meant a lot, just the fact that someone was keeping an eye on us,” says Linda Zachri, who was quarantined at home after a trip to Australia. “You may be the Love With Humanity Association, but I want to tell you that you are loved.”
“You guys are doing such a great job, providing food and warm clothing to the needy ones,” says a review by Shahid Muhammad on the association’s website.
Donate to Love With Humanity on their website, and keep up with them via Twitter and Facebook.
