ICNA-VA Hosts Backpack Giveaway

 
Islamic Circle of North America’s Virginia Chapter will prepare kids for school with free backpacks and supplies
 
By Jessie Biele, Patch.com
 
August 22, 2012 – This Saturday, the Islamic Circle of North America-VA branch will give away 300 free backpacks with supplies to local children in need.

This is the second time ICNA-VA has distributed backpacks with supplies to kids in need, ICNA-VA President Rameez Abid said. ICNA Relief pays for the backpacks and supplies from their own funds.
The Back to School Giveaway program is an effort made by ICNA Relief USA, the domestic-relief program of ICNA. In 2011, ICNA Relief USA distributed 15,000 school bags filled with supplies in 49 cities in 16 states across the country. This year, ICNA Relief USA is planning to expand the campaign to more localities in 21 states and has already purchased 25,000 school bags. Distribution centers are being set up with the help of local ICNA chapters.
“Education is power,” said Abid. “Last year the bags and the supplies were gone within an hour and a half. This year we are expecting it to go out even faster due to more publicity.
Abid said that the organization’s “only regret” was that they did not have the funds to give away a thousand book bags with supplies.
“Education is a key element to a lasting, fulfilling, and successful life and ICNA fully supports it with a passion,” said Abid. “We believe every child should have the opportunity to get a good education, even the less fortunate among them, and a lack of school supplies should not create a barrier for that goal.”
The ICNA-VA chapter will also reserve more than 30 book bags for Rising Hope UMC and Good Shepherd Catholic Church, according to Abid.
For more information, visit http://back2schoolgiveaway.com/
Article Courtesy: Patch.com