A MUSLIM community centre is helping some of the town’s struggling families by making a bumper donation to the St Helens Foodbank.

The Iman Trust Community Centre, in Sutton, handed over the goods as it pledged to support the charity, which sends food parcels to people hit by poverty.

A handing-over ceremony was attended by trustees of the centre, families from the Muslim community and children, who all helped to collect the food.

Donations included juice, milk, sugar, custard, pasta, rice, tinned vegetables and fruit, and cereals.

Usama Munir from the Iman Trust said: “Everyone who attends and prays at the centre was asked to contribute a small amount of food.

“We had three tables full and, for such a small community that is a lot of food.”

Situated on St Michael’s Mount, Elton Head Road, St Helens, the Iman Trust is a registered charity that provides a multi-ethnic community centre for Muslims.

Its focus is on activities that serve the wider public and common good.

Community-based projects this year have included school visits, Mother’s Day celebrations and snow-clearing operations.

They have also visited St Helens College to promote inter-faith discussions among students.

Usama said that the trust’s decision to donate the food was simply an act of Islamic duty.

He said: “It is the basic duty of a Muslim to make sure his neighbours are happy.

“If a man’s stomach is full but his neighbour’s is empty, that man cannot be a Muslim.”

The Iman Trust Community Centre will celebrate its official opening in October.

It will be visited by the Mayor of St Helens, local MPs and councillors, and other organisations or authorities interested in forging links with the centre.

Plans are also in place for a public open day, which will allow people to visit the centre and gain a greater understanding of the Iman Trust’s work and ethos.