A regional initiative to support blue-collar workers by encouraging people to fill boxes with toiletries and other daily necessities is about to restart in Qatar.
The month-long Box Appeal campaign, which operates in several Middle-Eastern countries, will kick-off on Sept. 15.
Running until Oct. 15, the appeal is led by Radisson Blu and Park Inn by Radisson hotels and urges people to load up specially-made boxes with toiletries and other everyday items.
They include unworn t-shirts, caps, disposable razors, shaving cream, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, small hand towels, combs, soap, shampoo and talcum powder.
Donations of food and money are not accepted.
Boxes can be collected from the Radisson Blu (formerly Ramada) hotel in Doha. Once filled and returned, they will be distributed to workers in the Industrial Area.
The charity drive is now in its 7th year in the region and 3rd year in Qatar, and organizers hope to fill 20,000 boxes this year.
In addition to Qatar, other participating countries include Lebanon, Oman, Egypt, Bahrain and the UAE.
While it is a popular campaign, some residents argue that expat workers should not have to rely on charity for essential toiletries and clothes.
Some say their employers should provide these items or pay their workers enough so that they can afford to purchase such necessities themselves.
A spokeswoman for Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, which operates the Radisson Blu and other hotel brands, told Doha News that the campaign was similar to initiatives which run particularly throughout Ramadan to support workers.
Social support
There have been a number of acts of kindness to support less privileged people in society recently.
A Qatari family living just behind the Radisson Blu hotel by C-Ring road, has a long-standing tradition of providing free, home-made laban to the community.
Hundreds of people travel across town to take advantage of the family’s generosity, whereby around 2,000 liters of the buttermilk-like drink are distributed daily.
Another Qatari family have set up a fridge outside their house and keep it stocked with free water, juice, laban, yoghurt, fruit and bread.
The snacks and refreshments have been welcomed by local workers and others.
Meanwhile, other initiatives have run throughout the summer, encouraging people to support workers toiling outdoors in the heat.
Local volunteer-based organization See My Culture encourages artists here to explore themes of “culture, Islam and community using creative mediums.”
It’s out! Watch @SeeMyCulture‘s video part of #WhatIWillDo campaign, join, & share! http://t.co/2go1aeF4jU pic.twitter.com/pgkpyhPbwy
— We Are Qatar – Bilal (@WeAreQatar) June 9, 2014
In a recent Twitter campaign #WhatIwill do, it collaborated  with local community news website JustHere, posting a video in which they encouraged people to spend QR100 on bottles of cold water and distribute them to laborers.
Will you be filling a box? Thoughts?
