On 13 March, Victoria Collins MP for Harpenden and Berkhamsted, and Daisy Cooper MP for St Albans, joined students from Katherine Warington School, their families, and local community groups, at the school’s annual community Ramadan Iftar (dinner).

As charity is a key theme of Ramadan, the event was held in support of St Albans & District Foodbank, with attendees being encouraged to donate items currently in need.

After the success of last year’s community Iftar, Annie Khaliq, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Lead at Katherine Warington School, organised this year’s event with Anjam Mehmood from Harpenden Community Circle – a community group supporting the Muslim community and interfaith projects locally, which co-funded the event.

The event aimed to bring people of all faiths together to reflect on the importance of community, unite in support of this fantastic local food bank, and enjoy a meal together at the time of breaking a fast (at sunset) for those doing so.

Victoria Collins, MP for Harpenden and Berkhamsted, said:

“It was wonderful to be part of such an important community-centred event here in Harpenden, and to see so many local residents come together to mark this Iftar. After the success of last year’s event it was great to see this one follow in its footsteps, bringing talks from individuals from Katherine Warington School, Harpenden Community Circle, and St Albans & District Foodbank, with many generous donations to this important local charity. A big thank you to everyone from these organisations who helped organise the event.”

Daisy Cooper, MP for St Albans, said:

“Being part of this celebratory and inclusive community event making the important occasion of the Ramadan Iftar, was really heartwarming. Huge thanks should go to the organisers. And in keeping with the spirit of the evening, alongside giving time to reflect and enjoy the fantastic community atmosphere, it provided an important opportunity to give to those most in need through donations to our local food bank.”

David Martin, Headteacher at Katherine Warington School, said:

“It was a wonderful evening and we are extremely grateful to all who came to be part of our community Iftar. The occasion embraced the theme of togetherness and the spirit of unity and inclusivity. It is through evenings like these that we see the true strength of our school community, one built on respect, understanding and kindness. We are excited to grow the event further and look forward to hosting again next year.”

Anjam Mehmood, from Harpenden Community Circle, said:

“Once again, we were able to host an interfaith Iftar event with KWS. It was a delightful evening filled with warmth and a fantastic atmosphere. It was great to see students, teachers, families and community members of various backgrounds come together and share a meal in line with our vision to promote harmony through interfaith events. From the positive feedback we received, we are heading in the right direction and look forward to our next one.”

Natalie Liley, from St Albans & District Foodbank, said:

“What a generous, inclusive and educational event Katherine Warington’s Iftar was. I felt welcomed, informed and fed and then went back to the Foodbank Warehouse with a car worth of donations. Incredible. Thank you to all the team who organised and hosted this special event.”

Further information about the community Ramadan Iftar can be found here: https://kwschool.co.uk/invitiation-to-ramadan-dinner/

Further information about the work of St Albans & District Foodbank, and details of how to donate, can be found here: https://stalbansdistrict.foodbank.org.uk/