HelpingACT's Mohammed Ali honoured with Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the ACT community

HelpingACT appeals to public’s JuneroCity

Canberra Daily | 20 June 2024

HelpingACT held its annual JuneroCity fundraising dinner on 25 June to help those who need food assistance.

Food is the most basic need in Canberra, says Mohammed Ali, former Canberra Citizen of the Year and founder and chair of charity HelpingACT. Demand for food assistance has doubled since last year, and many Canberrans struggle to put food on the table. 

“Poverty is a curse, especially in Canberra, which is a very affluent city,” Mr Ali said.

Mr Ali implored Canberrans to consider making a tax-deductible donation to HelpingACT via helpingact.org/donate.

“Don’t feel too pressured,” Mr Ali said. “Whatever you can give, even a single dollar, is more than enough. We don’t want $200 or $300 [donations]. My dream is to have 4,000 families in Canberra donating just $10 a month… We will certainly be better off, as far as the money situation is concerned, to realise the dreams and expectations of people who are vulnerable in Canberra.”

HelpingACT helps refugees and asylum seekers at Eid-al-Fitr

Canberra Daily | 9 April 2024

HelpingACT prepared and distributed 30 hampers, including food, dresses and toys, to refugees and asylum seekers in Canberra.

For Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr, celebrated this week, marks three days of celebration and feasting after the fasting of the holy month Ramadan. It is, HelpingACT founder and chair Mohammed Ali says, “a message of peace, love, prosperity, and harmony” – but festivals like Eid and New Year can also be an “additional burden on families who are already struggling”.

In fact, Mr Ali says, the food crisis is “getting worse and worse”: if last year food need in Canberra had doubled since 2022, now it is two and a half times more.

“Eid is a message like Christmas and Easter,” Mr Ali said. “It is a message of peace, love, prosperity, and harmony. If we start thinking along these lines, Canberra, [which] is a small heaven, certainly will become a wonderful place to live, where people love to intermingle with each other, learn about each other, and celebrate each other’s wonderful festivities together.”

Mijica Lus Wins 2024 ACT Young Woman of the Year

ACT Government | 7 March 2024

Mijica Lus won the 2024 ACT Young Woman of the Year award for her volunteering efforts over the last six years. Mijica is a valuable volunteer for HelpingACT.

For the last six years, Mijica Lus has volunteered her time and effort with various not-for-profits in the ACT in areas of education, media, health care and human services.

Mijica leads the Aurosokwa Project, which supports multicultural communities through cross collaboration.

“If it’s helping with food pantries, decreasing homelessness, supporting mental health initiatives and youth services as well, that’s what the project is about,” Mijica said.

“I’m really excited to contribute to a city that has given me so much, and this is one way of showing my appreciation.”

HelpingACT puts food on the table at Christmas

Canberra Weekly | 22 December 2022

Two hundred struggling Canberra families and people in need will have a better Christmas this year, thanks to HelpingACT.

HelpingACT feeds homeless at the Early Morning Centre

Canberra Weekly | 13 September 2022

The homeless woman at the Early Morning Centre enthusiastically thanks HelpingACT. Every month, ACT Citizen of the Year Mohammed Ali’s food charity hosts a barbecue one night and a curry lunch for the community hub’s vulnerable guests.

HelpingACT seeks public’s help to get back on the road

Canberra Weekly | 31 January 2022

Canberra charity HelpingACT needs the public’s help to continue their food deliveries to vulnerable people. Their black van has broken down beyond repair, and they urgently want to raise $20,000 to buy a replacement vehicle.