United Against Hunger – Standing Up For Justice

 
—FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—
 
JAMAICA, New York (September 28, 2010) – The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) announced today its National Campaign Against Hunger, a month-long campaign of advocacy, awareness and service to battle the growing effects of hunger on our nation. Bearing the slogan “United Against Hunger – Standing Up For Justice,” the campaign will begin on October 1, 2010. We invite people of all faiths to join hands in support of poor and needy Americans.

13 million households (14.6%) struggle for food in the United States; the highest level of hunger since the US Department of Agriculture first began measuring food security in 1995. An estimated 16.7 million children are at risk for hunger. These devastating statistics reveal that 1 in 4 children go hungry in the US; the figure increases to 1 in 3 children in African American and Latino households.
Throughout the month of October, ICNA chapters across the country will be fighting hunger from both social justice and social services perspectives by hosting panels to address the issue and by volunteering at soup kitchens, mobile food vans, food pantries and food drives. ICNA will also be dedicating a special issue of the Message International Magazine to hunger; local mosques and Islamic centers will promote awareness and action in workshops, lectures and Friday sermons. ICNA Relief and ICNA Council for Social Justice (ICSJ) will be leading this month long campaign.
Naeem Baig, Executive Director of ICSJ encouraged all to join the campaign. He said, “The issue of hunger cannot be taken lightly; we must ask ourselves why 49 million people in the world’s richest country go hungry every night and what we can do to alleviate their condition. As Muslims, we have a religious obligation to aid our neighbor when in need. We invite people of all faiths along with Islamic organizations, mosques and centers to join this campaign. Collectively we can make a difference in the lives of our fellow Americans.”
The Islamic Circle of North America is a leading American Muslim organization dedicated to the betterment of society through the promotion of Islamic values. The ICSJ was formed in 2009 as the face of ICNA’s social justice team. Its public advocacy agenda includes representing the Muslim voice on social justice issues of the American society, policy studies & research programs to empower the community. ICNA Relief is one of the leading Islamic relief organizations and provides help and assistance to Muslim and non-Muslim communities throughout North America.