Islamic Foundation School Holds 2nd Annual Ladies Cultural Event & Fashion Show Donates $4000 to ICNA Relief Chicago Food Pantry

$4000 donation from Islamic Foundation School Supports Food Distribution at ICNA Relief on Jan 31, 2015

Jan 23, 2015, Villa Park, IL - Every month, Islamic Foundation School (IFS) has a vice and virtue of the month that they recognize. The month of January was dedicated to Selfishness vs. Generosity. In honor of it, the IFS' club "Student's for Social Justice" organized a fashion show, with local Muslimah businesses, to raise funds for local charities. The Fashion Show & Cultural Event was sponsored by Jerusalem Cafe, Lombard.  

More than $4000 in proceeds were donated to ICNA Relief-Chicago (www.facebook.com/icnareliefchicago) "because they feel strongly about helping their local neighbors through hard times," said Aliya Banister, a K-12 counselor at IFS and ICNA Relief Chicago's Muslim Family Services.  In 2014, donations from the community made it possible for ICNA Relief Chicago to serve 22,000 individuals through its thrift store, two food pantries and Muslim Family Services.

"MashAllah, youth have so much energy and passion." Given that young adulthood can be a challenging time as well, "Islamic Foundation School believes it is very important to provide halal outlets and means of expression to our students. The school (wants students) to understand that you can still have fun as a practicing Muslim," said Banister. "As Muslims everything we do, even having fun, should have a purpose!" In honor of their virtue of the month, IFS also hosted a Food, Hygiene Products, and Toy Drive. Collections will, once again, be distributed through ICNA Relief.

On January 31st, these funds were used to donate rice, oil, sugar, lentil and flour to over 100 families at a monthly ICNA Relief Food and Clothing Distribution Event in Chicago.  "We are indebted to Islamic Foundation School and its students, teachers and parents," said Dr. Saima Azfar, Director, ICNA Relief Chicago. "When you see how desperate the need is, every little bit that can be done, becomes so important. We constantly receive thanks that were it not for our pantries, their families would starve. It's hard to believe, but there are several thousand Muslim families and little children that are really hurting," said Dr. Azfar.