An Eid feast to bring Somalia famine relief

AMEN JAFRI

METRO NEWS
Published: August 30, 2011 9:00 p.m.
Last modified: August 30, 2011 9:06 p.m.

Ottawa's Somalian community energized itself after a month of fasting with an Eid barbecue fundraiser for famine-stricken Somalians overseas.

Eid-ul-Fitr is a celebratory occasion that marks the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting.

"For me to sit idle and not do anything – this is the least that I can do," said Leyla Jeyt, a volunteer representative for Somali Relief Ottawa, one of the local groups that organized the event at Vincent Massey Park, along with the Somali Women's Association of Orleans and the Somali United Students Association at Carleton University.

The groups' have raised a total of $200,000 since their last barbecue benefit on July 24. Jeyt expected yesterday's event to raise $12,000 or more.

After purchasing a five-dollar ticket, families could opt for burgers and pizza, alongside traditional fare. For a $10 bracelet children could choose between jumping on a bouncy castle, face painting and henna body art.