ROCHESTER, New York – A local Muslim charity in Rochester, New York, is hosting food giveaway on the first Saturday of every month, providing families in need with much-needed help during bitter winter days, WHAM reported.

“I know a lot of people are out of work. They need something to feed their family and kids, so to help the people once a month we can give them something to help them,” said Munye Abanur, Executive Committee Barakah Muslim Charity.

During Saturday’s event, about 120 families from the community picked up food.

“There are people from every walk of life here and they get the food they get good food and it’s amazing to see you’re helping people in a real way,” said Fabeha Fazal, volunteer.

Jeremy Cooney, who volunteers with the charity, said such events help bridge the gap between the poor and the wealthy in the community.

“Quite frankly I think we could do with one less expensive study, and more of our community members volunteering and talking with the poor population,” he told WXXI News.

Providing help to tens of families, the monthly event is becoming like a mini grocery store for the needy.

“That’s a significant population that is feeling loved and feeling heard and feeling welcome. I grew up in Rochester,” Cooney said.

“You could go your whole life in Rochester without seeing the devastating effects of poverty in our own community. And this is one way of giving back and making our neighbors feel heard,” he added.

Though there are no official estimates, the US is home to an estimated Muslim minority of six to eight million.

An earlier Gallup poll found that the majority of Americans Muslims are loyal to their country and optimistic about their future in the United States.