Northern Lights recipient – Farah Rahmani

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Location: Calgary, Alberta

As the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts on Canadians became increasingly prevalent, Calgary’s Farah Rahmani was busy working on a new initiative. After seeing the stress on the Food Banks in Calgary, Farah stepped up with an idea to alleviate growing food security issues and the Canadian Zalmi Society Food and Household Hampers Distribution Program was born.

Farah has been involved every step of the way: sorting the purchased goods, creating boxes for individual families and coordinating distribution days. Over 400 families and organizations have been recipients of hampers containing a range of products including detergent, cleaning supplies, food and household items. Thanks to Farah and the team at the Canadian Zalmi Society, with the support of local donors, more than 50,000 pounds of goods were distributed through the initiative.

Important as feeding the body is, Farah also focused on feeding the mind. As a student, Farah knows how essential access to computers has become to support learning and of the stress placed on individuals who encounter barriers to that access. Working with a colleague at the society, they explored avenues of funding and as a result of their efforts, the Society was able to help ten students.

Those who know her will tell you that Farah is always willing to help those in need and embodies the Canadian spirit – as Canadian as the Northern Lights.