Join us in spreading the blessings of Ramadan! Every $10 you donate will provide a nourishing iftaar meal to a Zakat-eligible brother or sister in need, allowing them to break their fast with dignity and comfort. Our goal is to feed 300 individuals each day this Ramadan, ensuring that no one in our community goes hungry during this sacred time. Your contribution will make a meaningful difference in the lives of those less fortunate. Give generously and help us make this Ramadan a time of unity and compassion for all

Our Vision

Reducing poverty, empowering lives.

Our Mission

To provide vulnerable individuals a comprehensive range of services, support and resources to improve their quality of life.

Objectives

• To design and deliver innovative programs that reduce poverty and empower lives.
• To raise awareness about the cultural and religious needs of individuals accessing shelters and food banks.
• To research, document and disseminate knowledge on poverty impacting diverse communities through collaboration and partnerships.
• To establish and operate a Shelter that respects individual dignity, culture and religion.

Our History

Ansaar Foundation was founded by Imam Dr. Abdul Hai Patel in 2004,  when he saw homeless people on the streets of downtown freezing in the streets of Toronto. In that season, three people froze to death. Moved by this, alongside his friend, Abdul Huq Ingar, Imam Patel advocated to the City of Toronto officials and began a mission to help the city combat food insecurity and reduce homelessness.

The vision has been not just to establish a shelter but to provide homeless people the tools and resources to reintegrate into mainstream society, providing professional help and socio-cultural support. In keeping with this aim of helping to reduce food insecurity, homelessness and empower lives, Ansaar Foundation actively and consistently organizes events, programs and activities to address these issues.

With Abdulhamid Hathiyani as the President, Ansaar Foundation embarked on a major initiative to bring awareness to the issue of homelessness and raise funds for the cause. Under the leadership of Azhar Qureshi and with co-chairs, Bill Blair (former Chief of Police Toronto); Armand La Barge (Chief of Police York Region); Jane Pitfield (Toronto Councilor) and Adam Giambrone (Toronto Councilor), the first “Walk for Homelessness” was undertaken and was extremely successful. Subsequently, Ansaar Foundation partnered with many agencies with similar mandates to save an active food bank in the Flemingdon Park, Toronto and for many years served over 1000 individuals and families. It has  collectively worked towards poverty reduction and has continued to feed the homeless on the streets of downtown Toronto and Hamilton, provide monthly food hampers to around 100 families, and make available halal meals to those who need it at the many shelters in Toronto. 

Ansaar Foundation has seen its ups and downs but the resilience of Imam Abdul Hai Patel, Zubeda Vahed and Dr AbdulHamid Hathiyani have ensured that the organization remained focused on its mission of reducing poverty and empowering lives. Sister Naila Syed steered the ship during the difficult COVID pandemic phase as we were dealt with a severe blow to close our offices in Flemingdon Park. As the saying goes there is light at the end of the tunnel and so around the year 2020, some new volunteers joined Ansaar Foundation. They were hard working, courageous and dynamic, bringing a fresh perspective and energy that gave a new life to the organization.

Under the leadership of Zulfikar Hathiyani a new office in Scarborough was opened, resulting in a steady increase in its funding, activities and programming. Since that time Ansaar Foundation has continued to grow with increase in collaborations, partnerships, programing for seniors, youth, women, new immigrants, refugees etc. In 2022, it took a small but bold step of acquiring a “Halal Meals on Wheels” truck to address food insecurity and poverty.  Ansaar Foundation’s mission remains to “reduce poverty, empower lives” with an increase in more programs to support employment and entrepreneurship.