JEDDAH — The Red Sea Mall has renewed its partnership with Ita’am, the Saudi food bank and charitable organization, for the second year in a row to continue their joint events and community awareness programs in Jeddah.

The partnership proved fruitful during 2017, with Ita’am’s contribution to preserve 140,800 meals, weighing 49,000 kg, through six boxes that were installed at the mall for this program. About 17 percent of the collected food was distributed in Jeddah.

Aidrous Al-Bar, executive member of Red Sea Markets Ltd., the parent company of Red Sea Mall, voiced his appreciation for Ita’am’s great efforts, noting that the organization’s 12 representatives at the mall played a significant role in preserving food over the past year.

Al-Bar expressed interest in a continuous partnership with Ita’am as they work to reduce food waste and distribute the excess food to people in need.

Moving forward with such a partnership is part of the Red Sea Mall’s CSR programs, which has an extra emphasis as the mall is a landmark attracting large crowds all year round. The company remains adamant to promote awareness among the public through a proactive manner in cooperation with Ita’am and different campaigns done at the center.

Abdullah Al-Darbah, CEO of Ita’am, stressed the importance of food preservation. «Partaking in such a program is the core of our culture which encourages us to preserve food, avoid extravagance and understand that there are people in dire need of food,» he said.

Al-Darbah expressed his gratitude toward the Red Sea Mall officials for their support to and cooperation with the program, saying that Ita’am will continue their contribution throughout 2018 by being part of the various activities taking place at Red Sea Mall. — SG