Muslim Americans Step Up During the Pandemic
Muslim American Activism Homelessness, hunger, poverty, and a lack of clean water, sanitation and health care aren’t just international problems. These troubles also exist in American neighborhoods. In fact, nearly half of all Americans live paycheck to paycheck.
Muslims For Humanity with ICNA Relief providing services to locals
As the community is suffering the effects from the pandemic, many have stepped up and come together to show that you care by making special gifts, volunteering your time, and raising awareness. This is your last chance to help even more families with a gift before the year ends.
ICNA Relief Hosts Food Giveaway
As the Holiday season continues one organization is making sure Bronx residents have enough food on the table during the pandemic. Bronxnet Reporter, Jericho Tran speaks with some of the ICNA Relief volunteers about their efforts to feed the community.
Rohingya refugee family finds new home in Brantford
BRANTFORD — A Rohingya refugee family has found a new home in Brantford and has been receiving a helping hand from local groups. Anuwar Yosof and his family say they came to Canada to escape violence in their home country and to give their sons hope for a better future. “I’m very happy to be living in Canada,” he said. “For education, for living, for studies, I think their futures will be very good.” The year-long process was delayed by the pandemic but has now been completed. The family is now settling into Southwestern Ontario, far away from violence and discrimination that Yosof says his people face. “The Myanmar government will killed me because the condition is not secure,” he said. Cares in Brant along with the Muslim Association of Brantford is sponsoring the family by providing shelter, food, and clothing with costs up to roughly $30,000. A virtual fundraiser was held for the family to raise an additional $10,000. “The government is paying for six months of support,” said Imam Abu Noman Tarek, director of religious affairs for the association. “We are responsible to add on six months as well as initial start, set up costs.” He adds that the fundraiser was also an opportunity for the family to meet their sponsors and other community members. “When we have something for ourselves, we extend our kindness and support for those looking for it,” said Tarek. The Cares in Brant group has previously sponsored a Syrian family who came to the city in 2016. “People tend to forget that the refugee experience is so common and parallel from family to family,” said Jamie Crick of the Cares group. All donations go directly to the family and can be made online at ICNA Relief Canada or by contacting the Brantford Mosque. Article Courtesy By Kitchener
Mayor Haynie, Patriots Point join together for drive-thru donation for non-profits Sunday
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCIV) — During this holiday season, local non-profits are working tenfold to ensure families in need have everything they need.
Dr. Mohsin Ansari Elected as the President of ICNA
—FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE— JAMAICA, New York (December 04, 2020) – The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) National Election Committee announced that Dr. Mohsin Ansari has been elected as the President of ICNA for the 2021-2022 term. Dr. Ansari has been associated with ICNA in different capacities for three decades and is currently the Vice President of Social Services. He previously served as the Chairman of ICNA Relief and Helping Hand for Relief and Development (HHRD). He completed his pediatric residency at Metrohealth Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio. He continued to broaden his training and experience at the same institution in the capacity of a Chief Resident. Dr. Ansari then did his pediatric specialization and fellowship in Neonatology (Newborn and Premature baby care) at Metroheath Medical Center. Dr. Ansari is currently licensed to practice medicine in several states. He is also an author of mutiple research papers published both in national and international medical journals. He lives in Maryland with his wife and five sons. The new President will be taking the oath during upcoming MGA meeting. The Outgoing President, Mr. Javaid Siddiqi, expressed confidence in Dr. Ansari and prayed for his success in this new responsibility.
Mayor Haynie, Patriots Point join together for drive-thru donation for non-profits Sunday
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCIV) — During this holiday season, local non-profits are working tenfold to ensure families in need have everything they need.
Food aid centers face high demand
Lines at food pantries and soup kitchens normally grow around this time of year, but the pandemic has doubled them, aid workers say. With an unprecedented amount of need, relief centers are pooling their resources to make sure everyone is fed, though it may not be enough. ICNA Relief, a Muslim charity in Roxbury, has started a delivery service for its food pantry as the community suffers from COVID-19 and job loss. But with sickness affecting the volunteers and their families, ICNA is stripped of more than one resource. Nomi Palwala, the director of hunger prevention at ICNA Relief, felt the burden of the pandemic increase around the Thanksgiving holiday. “Our lines have actually doubled,” Palwala said. “They’re standing out there in the freezing cold … It was brutal for me, and I had gloves on. Imagine those who have kids who are not able to leave their kids at home.” The organization has received assistance through several grants, allowing them to give out $25 vouchers to culturally specific grocery stores that carry Halal items for the holidays. To further meet the demand, ICNA partnered with Fair Foods, a nonprofit that rescues surplus food and redistributes it, which is dealing with its own pandemic-related burdens. In March, several Fair Foods volunteers and employees, including founder Nancy Jamison, contracted the virus. “I was sick for about four months. So it was really difficult for us to reopen, but the crew here got it reopened back in May,” Jamison told the Banner. Now, those who pack the food bags and those who load the trucks stay separate from each other to prevent sickness. Fair Foods’ $2 bag program has been canceled to stop the spread as well, but extending produce to other organizations is one way to fill that gap. Partnering with the city of Boston’s departments allows Fair Foods to have the capacity to link arms with smaller organizations. Marty Martinez, chief of Health and Human Services, said there is no question that COVID-19 has shed a light on food insecurity in Boston, though the problem here has not yet reached severe crisis levels. “Gratefully, the lines you see in the news … We haven’t had cars waiting in five-hour lines,” he told the Banner. “We have a really robust system.” However, Martinez says that the federal government will need to step in to keep up with the demand. His office is also trying to increase awareness of SNAP, as there are thousands of families who qualify but haven’t applied, he said. The Food Access Office and the Office of Immigration Affairs have helped orchestrate Fair Foods’ distribution, and both the city and Fair Foods are consistently in contact with community health centers and Main Streets organizations to keep track of the needs of each neighborhood. “All of us are grateful to have the city of Boston’s resilience funding. So many are having a really difficult time, and the grants are our backbone,” Jamison said. Though she founded Fair Foods over 30 years ago, Jamison said she has never seen a crazier period than the last two weeks. When she returned to work, she found herself exhausted by the increase of produce bags to pack. “It’s been dramatic, the amount of people that are coming to us. And we’ve reduced ourselves from a 400-a-week crew to about 20 people,” she said. Another relief center, Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD), added an extra emergency relief day during the holiday week to provide last-minute food, fuel and housing assistance. The organization partnered with the Greater Boston Food bank and other local food pantries to spread the word on collective resources. John Drew, CEO of ABCD, is also seeing an unprecedented need at the food pantries. He’s calling on the national government to send more aid as CARES Act funding begins to run out. “I think the city and the state are getting stretched thin,” Drew says. “The majority of money so far that we got over our regular planning is the CARES money we got from Washington in June,” he said. For now, ABCD is working as closely as it can with other organizations on the ground to keep the supply chain going without federal help. Monee Vance, the manager of an ABCD food pantry in Roxbury, is leading a reduced staff into this new phase. While she normally asks those in need to call and make an appointment to pick up food, as they have to pack the bags in advance, people have begun to show up unannounced. “We’re booked for the whole week,” Vance said. “There’s only so much that I can do in my day to day.” As the phone calls increase, so do requests for other emergency services ABCD cannot provide. “It’s been difficult seeing the community in pain. It makes it more difficult to do my job.” Article Courtesy: BayStateBanner.com
Food aid centers face high demand
Lines at food pantries and soup kitchens normally grow around this time of year, but the pandemic has doubled them, aid workers say. With an unprecedented amount of need, relief centers are pooling their resources to make sure everyone is fed, though it may not be enough.
