Aid For Eid 2026
Background
The Afra Charity Foundation has carried out a comprehensive aid initiative aimed at assisting disadvantaged families, especially mothers and children, during the Persian New Year. This season represents an important cultural moment, centered on family gatherings, gift-giving, and renewal. For families facing financial hardship, however,
the added expenses can make it difficult to take part in these traditions.
To address this, the project delivers a combination of support, including new clothing for children as well as essential food packages for underprivileged families. Its core objective is to reduce both financial strain and emotional pressure, enabling families to observe the New Year with a sense of dignity and happiness.
By meeting basic needs in both clothing and nutrition, the initiative seeks to improve overall well-being and help families begin the year on more stable footing. A total of 196 families in Tehran and nearby areas, such as Varamin, Qods City, and surrounding villages, have been supported. These regions were selected due to ongoing economic challenges that often prevent residents from affording even essential items, making this effort especially impactful during a meaningful time of year. In addition, the Afra Charity Foundation provided a clothing allowance for
Nowruz (Eid) purchases to 29 children under its support.
Summary
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Goal: To provide aid packages, including new clothing for children and essential food packages for
families, helping them celebrate the Persian New Year with dignity and ease. -
Beneficiary: 196 underprivileged families located in disadvantaged areas, and 29 children supported by Afra.
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Start Date: Winter 2026
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End Date: Spring 2026
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Estimated Cost: $11,500.00 CAD
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Source of Cost: Aid packages including new clothing for children and essential food supplies for families.
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Raised Donation: $11,500.00 CAD
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Source of Donation: Online donation via website/E-transfer; Benevity program; Baran’e Mehr Charity Group (Vancouver, BC)
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Status: Completed
Objectives
Provide new outfits for children to help them celebrate the Persian New Year with dignity and joy.
Alleviate financial burdens by ensuring families have access to sufficient food supplies.
Support children's self-esteem and relieve financial stress on families.
Promote dignity and inclusion by enabling families to fully participate in New Year festivities.
Distribute essential food items to prevent hunger and malnutrition among underprivileged families.
Strengthen social bonds and
improve community well-being by reducing economic hardships.
Highlights
This integrated support initiative is designed to uplift the confidence and happiness of children by providing them with new clothing for Nowruz. Building on the success of its first implementation in 2025, this marks the second year the program has been carried out, reflecting its positive impact and continued relevance. Children are given vouchers/allowances to select outfits themselves, creating a more engaging and respectful experience. This method not only allows children to participate in the process but also ensures that the clothing reflects their personal needs and preferences, strengthening their sense of identity and dignity.
Alongside this, the food assistance component enables vulnerable families to celebrate the New Year without worrying about access to basic nutrition. Most families receive carefully prepared food packages containing staple items such as rice, cooking oil, lentils, sugar, tea, canned fish, macaroni, and tomato paste. In addition, a portion of families are provided with vouchers/allowances to purchase food items directly, offering flexibility based on their specific needs. These approaches together help ensure balanced nutrition while allowing families to prepare traditional holiday meals without added financial pressure. The distribution process is designed to be efficient and respectful, preserving the dignity of all recipients.
By combining these efforts, the project goes beyond addressing immediate needs and contributes to a broader sense of inclusion and well-being within the community. It helps reduce the burden on single-mothers, enabling them to support their children with greater confidence and less stress. At the same time, it fosters a sense of unity and shared experience, encouraging families to take part in New Year traditions and strengthening social bonds across the community.
This year, the program was implemented under particularly challenging circumstances due to the ongoing war in Iran, which has significantly intensified economic hardship for many families. Rising inflation, disruption to key industries, and declining household purchasing power have made it increasingly difficult for vulnerable communities to meet even their most basic needs . As a result, the demand for support has grown substantially, making this initiative even more critical in helping families navigate a period of heightened uncertainty and financial strain.
This is a beautiful photo of one of the children supported by Afra. To protect her privacy, her face has been altered using AI. In the midst of war, she has gone shopping for Eid. Life goes on!
Sample images of the food items included in the packages
Accomplishments
The Aid for Eid 2026 project enabled vulnerable families to celebrate the Persian New Year with dignity and renewed hope, despite the added strain caused by the ongoing war and deepening economic challenges. By easing financial pressure and reducing the risk of hunger and malnutrition, the program helped stabilize household
conditions during a particularly difficult period. It allowed families to shift their focus from immediate survival concerns to meaningful participation in New Year traditions, reinforcing a sense of normalcy, resilience, and community continuity.
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Enhanced happiness and confidence among children and mothers through clothing and food support.
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Reduced financial stress by providing essential resources and easing economic burdens.
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Improved nutrition and overall well-being through access to sufficient and balanced food.
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Prevented social exclusion and preserved dignity by enabling full participation in celebrations.
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Strengthened family and community bonds through shared experiences and mutual support.
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Encouraged long-term resilience by addressing critical needs during a period of heightened hardship.