Wesal Adam, 16, is spending her Saturday helping to pack homemade meals for those in need.

“I’ve been here since 7:30 a.m.,” said Adam. “I was here yesterday and last night too doing some of this. It’s a long process but it’s definitely worth it.”

What You Need To Know

  • May 29 is National Muslim Soup Kitchen Day

  • The majority of volunteers locally are teenagers

  • 2,000 meals in the Capital Region will be delivered

Wesal is one of 50 Capital Region volunteers participating in the sixth-annual National Muslim Soup Kitchen Day.

The majority of those helping are teenagers like Wesal.

Program director Uzma Popal said including the youth program is all about teaching and creating unity in times where many are divided.

“One of the most important things is charity and giving to those in need,” said Popal. “How can we sleep at night with full stomachs when somebody else is, you know, “I’m hungry and can’t sleep?’”

The kids know there’s no better time than now to help.

“Before this, people didn’t have enough,” said Donish Faiz, 16. “But now, with corona, they’re going to have less and us helping them they’re probably going to need all of this.”

By “all of this,” Faiz means the 2,000 free meals the kids helped deliver to community centers, homeless shelters, and senior living facilities across the area.

Their efforts aren’t lost on those enjoying a warm meal.

John Chicoine is a maintenance employee at Burns Senior Apartments.

“It does help a lot of people in here,” said Chicoine. “They need it.”