A 23-year-old student in Bolton has set herself a remarkable challenge this Ramadan—cooking meals for hundreds of people as they break their fast.
Tanya Ahmed, a student at UCLan in Preston, has always prepared food for her family during the holy month but decided to take it to the next level this year, aiming to cook for 600 people across the town.
“There are a lot of teachings that push you towards helping other people, especially during Ramadan,” Tanya told Bolton News.
“One in particular says when feeding someone who is fasting, you get the same rewards as that person. I am quite a religious person.”
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Ramadan is a sacred month for Muslims worldwide, marked by fasting from dawn to sunset, prayer, and acts of charity. Tanya has taken this spirit of generosity to heart, preparing and delivering large quantities of food to local mosques.
Her first event, held last Saturday, saw her cooking for 200 people—an experience she described as both stressful and rewarding.
“I have always cooked for friends and family, which is not that much, around 20 people, but even that is quite stressful when you have to make a lot of food,” she said. “Now I have gone from cooking for 20 to 100s at a time.”
Special Preparations
To manage the workload, Tanya carefully plans and preps her meals the night before, ensuring that the food is ready on time for those who have been fasting all day.
“It is important with this to be organised, as you are feeding fasting people, you want to do it on time,” she explained.
Beyond the satisfaction of feeding others, Tanya has been touched by the support and appreciation she has received.
After cooking at a mosque near her home, she was overwhelmed by the gratitude from worshippers, some of whom she hadn’t spoken to in a long time.
“When people message your parents saying they are proud of me, it is great for me but it makes them proud as well,” she said.
In addition to her Ramadan initiative, Tanya shares her cooking journey on TikTok under the handle “Cook With Tee,” where she showcases recipes and meal prep tips.
Through her platform, she hopes to inspire others to take part in acts of kindness, particularly during the holy month.
As she continues her challenge, Tanya remains focused on her goal of feeding 600 people, proving that even one person’s efforts can make a big difference in the community.
