• Daily Iftar meal delivery for needy families in Istanbul
• Home Iftar tables to strengthen solidarity during Ramadan

The Esenler Municipality in Istanbul has announced the "Hello Iftar" service to deliver free Iftar meals to families unable to prepare food due to work pressures or health conditions throughout Ramadan.

Mayor Muhammad Tawfiq Goksu explained that the service targets fasting individuals whose circumstances prevent them from preparing Iftar, noting that each meal serves four people and is delivered directly after receiving the order via the dedicated line.

He added that the initiative is part of a comprehensive Ramadan program launched by the municipality to promote social solidarity, with field teams preparing and distributing meals daily to registered beneficiaries.

The program also includes organizing communal Iftar tables and solidarity activities to support needy groups and ease their living burdens.

Goksu emphasized that Ramadan is a "month of mercy, forgiveness, and mutual support," highlighting the municipality's efforts in decorating streets, squares, and schools with special lights and ornaments to revive the Ramadan atmosphere across the neighborhoods.

The municipality has activated a dedicated phone line, "Hello Iftar," to take requests from families unable to prepare Iftar, setting up complete Iftar tables in their homes.

This year, traditional Iftar tents were replaced with the home delivery model, providing daily four-course meals to around 100 families while also considering Suhoor needs.

Municipal officials will join Iftar tables in selected homes to strengthen community solidarity. The municipality also has one of Turkey’s largest catering kitchens, capable of producing up to 120,000 meals if needed, ensuring free meals for the needy throughout Ramadan.

Culturally, a special program will host 100 young people daily for Iftar at historical and cultural sites in Istanbul, along with guided tours for different age groups to visit landmarks.

Public squares will feature children’s activities, family programs, and cultural events after Iftar, with designated areas for events and serving tea and coffee.

The Ramadan program will conclude on the Night of Decree with the event "10,000 Recitations and 100,000 Supplications," continuing the tradition of a raffle for an Umrah trip as in previous years.

Special teams have been assigned to wake residents for Suhoor, and some mosques will perform Taraweeh prayers in the traditional "Androni style."