A volunteer group in Dubai has launched its annual summer ice cream campaign, inviting residents to join an initiative aimed at bringing relief and appreciation to more than 19,000 blue-collar workers across the emirate during the hottest months of the year.
The campaign, organised by the Spread Kindness Volunteering Team under the slogan “Beat the Heat with the Cool Treat,” has returned for its second consecutive summer. The group is registered with Dubai’s Community Development Authority (CDA) and hopes to expand its outreach this year by recruiting more volunteers and supporters.
Ayesha Ismail, founder of Spread Kindness, said the initiative was created to recognise the efforts of outdoor workers who continue to work in high temperatures throughout the summer.
“We saw how hard our blue-collar brothers were working outdoors and wanted to do something simple that brings instant relief and a smile,” Ismail told Khaleej Times.
The organisation began in 2015 as a small community effort known as Open Arms, started by a group of friends and family members carrying out acts of kindness across Dubai. This year, the team adopted the name Spread Kindness and officially registered with the CDA, allowing it to organise larger community projects.
“Our mission is still the same: turning compassion into action, one person at a time,” Ismail said.
Each distribution begins with a volunteer briefing focused on safety and hydration before teams travel to designated work sites in an ice cream van. Working alongside site supervisors, volunteers distribute ice creams to workers during their scheduled breaks.
“We hand them a cold ice cream and say a simple ‘thank you for building our city’. In that moment, you see the heat fade and a smile appear,” Ismail said. “Sometimes they take a photo with us; sometimes they just say shukran. But every time, it reminds us why we’re here.”
Residents interested in volunteering can register through the CDA Volunteer Portal or the DubaiNow application by searching for “Spread Kindness.” All volunteer hours are officially recorded by the Community Development Authority, and participants receive certificates acknowledging their service.
The organisation is also accepting financial contributions through its partnership with the AES Community Care Club. Two additional distribution events are scheduled for Sunday, July 26, and Sunday, August 23, beginning at noon. The locations will be announced closer to the dates. Donations start at Dh30 per person and are paid directly to the campaign’s ice cream supplier.
Alongside the seasonal campaign, Spread Kindness organises a weekly meal distribution every Saturday in Al Nahda 1 between 11:15 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
The ice cream initiative joins several programmes launched across Dubai each summer to support outdoor workers, including the Al Freej Fridge campaign and the UAE’s annual midday work ban, now in its 22nd year.
“It’s not about the ice cream. It’s about dignity, respect, and connection,” Ismail said.
Residents wishing to volunteer or contribute to the campaign can contact the Spread Kindness team on 056 312 7666.
