Charity Begins at Home
Monday, December 21, 2015
Sign up to Volunteer With ICNA Relief
All candidates will be interviewed before a final selection is made.
Monday, November 2, 2015
Help Us Prepare for the Arrival of Refugee Families
Donations can be shipped to ICNA Relief Chicago, 1793 Bloomingdale Rd, Suite #5
Glendale Heights, IL 60139. To drop off in person, please email chicago@icnarelief.org to book an appointment.
Will Your Family Be Safe in a Disaster?
As the frequency and intensity of natural and man-made disasters increase, it is only a matter of when, not if, our local community will be affected. Preparation is key.
Towards this end, Sr. Jane Aslam, Director, Disaster Relief Services, ICNA ReliefUSA, will speak to the community at large on November 14, 2015. At the end of the workshop, you will have learned how to protect your family in the event of a disaster and how you can be a valuable resource in the community when tragedy strikes. Workshop open to teens and adults.
You will also learn what it takes to be on the frontlines as a volunteer during a disaster. As you are aware ICNA Relief USA offers Disaster Relief Services to help survivors of both man-made and natural disasters. Our volunteers have served tosupport and rehabilitate communities in almost 40 disasters, from the Twin Towers in NY, during Hurricanes Katrina, Gustav, Ike, and Sandy; floods in Tennessee, Detroit, and Texas; tornadoes in Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, and more . ICNA Relief USA is recognized by FEMA and NVOAD, and has participated in projects funded by the American Red Cross, FEMA, United Way, and the September 11th Fund.
Being well prepared is half the battle. Learn how you can protect your family and community at this valuable workshop.
RSVP at chicago@icnarelief.org, with DRS in the subject line, indicating if you need babysitting and how many family members will attend.
Sunday, November 1, 2015
ICNA Relief Food Pantries Collaborate with Ulta Foods and Jewel-Osco
Alhamdollilah, Ultra in Lombard and the Jewel Stores in Wooddale and Elmhurst will be donating fresh produce and fruits to ICNA Relief’s Food pantries as part of the Direct Connect program run by Northern Illinois Food Bank. “We are so pleased to see the commitment ICNA Relief’s food pantries have from area businesses. Given the need, this is a blessing,” said Naeem Iqbal, Outreach Coordinator Midwest and Coordinator Hunger Prevention Midwest.
Free Flu Shots & Health Screenings - Nov 7th
Free health screenings,and $5 flu shots, scheduled for Nov 7th at ICNA Dawah Center, 6224 N. California Ave. Chicago. Flu shots from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.; Screenings from 11:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. Event hosted by ICNA Relief, Compassionate Care Network and Hamdard Healthcare Center. Please spread the word! ( 8 hour fasting recommended for Diabetes screening).
Monday, September 14, 2015
We Ensure Your Udhiyah Reaches Your Neediest Neighbors
The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah upon him) explained Udhiyah or Qurbani as "... the sunnah of your father Abraham. For every hair of the sacrificed animal you receive a reward from your Lord.” (Tirmidhi). We will immediately distribute the meat to the poor, including to widows and orphans, in our communities.
As Easy as I-2-3
This Eid-ul-Adha, ICNA Relief can facilitate the Qurbani/Udhiyah on your behalf, right here in the USA. You can:
• Drop off your Qurbani to designated stores across Chicago.
•Visit www.icnarelief.org to donate your Qurbani today. The Qurbani will be offered for the name you specify, at the time of the slaughter.
Details to come.
Volunteer
Volunteer to help us distribute Qurbani meat. Mention “Meat Drive” and provide your contact information and dates of availability at http://bit.ly/DonateTime.
Questions? Contact Outreach Coordinator, Naeem Iqbal, Chicago@icnarelief.org; Subject line: Meat Drive; (630) 489-8390
Thursday, September 10, 2015
ICNA Relief Chicago Marks 9/11 with Donation Valued at $5,600+, to Chicago School
PRESS RELEASE
Muslim Non-Profit Marks 9/11 with Donation Valued at $5,600+, to Chicago School
Glendale Heights, IL (9/10/ 2015) - With donations, both monetary and in-kind, from Chicago area Muslims the national non-profit, ICNA Relief , will donate 400 Back Packs and supplies to Emmett Louis Till Math and Science Academy in Chicago, today, in observance of 9/11. The donation is valued at $5,600. ICNA Relief Chicago chapter has donated more than 1200 back packs and supplies locally, in total, this summer. They will be at the school between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Thursday 9/10.
“Do you remember the joy of having brand new school supplies? Many of these children don’t. We have also distributed back packs to 200 children in need at the DuPage County Back to School Fair 2015. Other recipients include homeless children via Bridge Communities in Glen Ellyn and refugees at the Chicago Dawah Center, Islamic Center of Wheaton, Masjid AlFarooq in Chicago, and kids in need in Rockford and Peoria,” said Dr. Saima Azfar, Director, ICNA Relief Chicago.
“We are living our faith in action. As Muslims we are expected to be there for our neighbors, especially the most vulnerable, our children in need. Getting their school year started off on the right foot is an important step in the right direction.”
Besides individual donors, Muslim organizations supporting this effort include Islamic Center of Wheaton (ICW), Wheaton; MECCA Center, Willowbrook; Muslim Community Center (MCC), Morton Grove; ICNA Sisters Wing, Young Muslims (YM) and Muslim Children of North America (MCNA).
In 2014, ICNA Relief distributed 23,825 backpacks and supplies to children in 16 states, across 70 distribution sites. The Glendale Heights based Chicago chapter alone distributed 850 backpacks including among homeless children hosted by Bridge Communities, a Glen Ellyn, IL, based non-profit.
-end-
Saturday, September 5, 2015
"It's like I lost my own child." - Ziyad al Falah, Syrian Refugee Resettled in Chicago
The images of three-year-old Aylan and his five-year-old brother, Galip, their little bodies washed ashore a Turkish beach, hit Ziyad al Falah particularly hard. This ICNA Relief beneficiary, a refugee who has been in Chicago since December 17, 2014, is no stranger to the Syrian Refugee Crisis. He, too, has children, a seven-year-old daughter and a ten-month-old baby. He, too, knows the desperation, fear and anguish that is fueling Syrian refugees to rush out to sea, to escape.
"I am very sad because they are like my children. They are now like angels in heaven. I am very sad for the Syrian people's situation," he shared, via a translator. "It's like I lost my own child". Ziyad himself has been a prisoner in Syrian jails. "I've been tortured and I don't know how I survived this experience. I got out, by God's will. But I found out that my daughter and my wife were kidnapped in Syria," he chokes up. Ziyad approached tribal leaders to help him negotiate and secure the release of his wife and pre-schooler. "With their help, we were able to escape Syria. I haven't seen the rest of my family for three years. My brother is still missing. All because of Bashar Al Assad."
ICNA Relief's efforts with refugees like Ziyad al Falah include everything from securing car donations, to helping set up refugee apartments and kitchens, to helping them learn how to read a train schedule. "Our work is to help the most vulnerable and when you add a new country, a new language and a new culture to the mix, to a refugee the odds are seemingly insurmountable," said Executive Director, Mr. Maqsood Ahmad.
We are currently seeking volunteers from across the nation to serve as mentors and friends to refugee families. It can be anything from a social visit once a month to helping refugees learn that generic and bulk groceries are cheaper than brand name products. Volunteers can spend as little as an hour each month with a refugee family. Potential mentors can request more information at bitly.com/MentoraRefugee.
Donate to help refugees in the USA at www.icnarelief.org/refugees.
Saturday, August 29, 2015
ICNA RELIEF SPEAKERS FEATURED ON ISNA CONVENTION ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ON DIVESE COMMUNITIES
| 9:00 -10:30 AM Sun., Sept. 6Florence Room | Building a Diverse Community Come join us for a roundtable discussion on building diverse Muslim communities. We will discuss ways to ensure our Latino, elderly and refugee communities feel welcomed and included. We will discuss how to overcome feelings of isolation and work towards solutions to make sure every person has a sense of belonging in our communities. Speakers: Ahlam Mahmood, Naazish YarKhan, Anse Tamara Gray, Hazel Gomez Facilitator: Noor Ali ICNA Relief will also be coordinating the attendance of 50 refugees to whom ISNA has generously extended free registration, a gift valued at $5000 but whose impact will be priceless. Finally, we join ISNA in inviting you to share your wisdom and your stories of resilience via video. Select entries will be screened at the convention. We would love to hear from you. Click for details: www.isna.net/video- |
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Will Every Family Have Food to Break the Fast?
"One in 7 people in our nation utilize food banks. In 2013, 14.7 million or approximately 20 percent of children in the U.S. lived in poverty." - Source: Feeding America. This Ramadan, will you make sure every family has food to break the fast? #HungerPrevention #icnarelief
Monday, May 18, 2015
ICNA’S Women’s Essentials National Campaign Collects Personal Hygiene Products for Homeless Women Through May
Feminine products such as sanitary napkins and tampons can be difficult for homeless women to obtain and are not typical items donated to food pantries and shelter homes. For a poor or homeless woman these items can make a world of difference in preserving their dignity and respect.
Join ICNA Relief USA and collect personal hygiene products for women in need during the month of May (5/1 - 5/31). (NEW PACKAGED ONLY). Items requested can be shipped/dropped off to the locations mentioned below. Monetary donations for the cause are also being accepted online at http://bit.ly/1GwBTjO. Your donations will be distributed to PADS in Glen Ellyn and to the Red Cross Women’s Wellness Week , that runs from , May 11th to May 15th 2015.
Items Requested:
* Deodorant and Body Sprays
* Sanitary Pads and Tampons
* Feminine Wash
* Shampoo and Conditioner
* Lotion and Moisturizers
* Undergarments
* Nail Clippers and Emory Boards
* Combs and Brushes
* Tooth Brushes and Toothpaste
* Mouth Wash (non-alcohol)
DROP OFF LOCATIONS:
ICNA Relief Midwest Office
1701 Bloomingdale Road
Glendale Heights, IL
844-414-4862
Open; M-Thurs
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
ICNA Relief Thrift Store
17 w 731 Roosevelt Rd. Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
Phone: 1-866-497-9037
Open: M - Thurs
Timings: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
ICNA Dawah Center Food Pantry
6224 N.California Ave. Chicago, IL
Call Sr Ahlam
773-739-3224
Open Daily 12:00 p.m.- 2:00 p.m.
Mosques:
Muslim Society Inc.( MSI), 1785 Bloomingdale Rd, Glendale Heights, IL 60139
Islamic Center of Wheaton ( ICW), 900 E Geneva Rd, Wheaton, IL 60187
Islamic Center of Naperville (ICN), 2844 W Ogden Ave, Naperville, IL 60540
Islamic Community Center of DesPlaines ( ICCD), 480 Potter Rd, Des Plaines, IL 60016
Latino Muslims of Chicago, www.latinomuslimsofchicago.com
Monday, May 11, 2015
Now Donate to ICNA Relief USA via Amazon.com, Too. Our Impact Speaks Volumes
2. Select ICNA Relief USA for your support.
3. Shop within the Smile.Amazon site.
4. For every eligible purchase you make, listen for the Ch-ching! Amazon will donate 0.5% of the item's price us.
TAG LINE
Volunteer, Donate and Follow us @icnarelief on Twitter and Facebook.
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Partners in Good Works Honored at ICNA Relief Annual Banquet- Strengthening the Community, Together
1. Muslim Community Center (MCC), Chicago, and Muslim Education Center (MEC), Morton Grove, for their monthly commitment to donating food over $3000 monthly, through Project Rizq, to ICNA’s food pantries, and for their financial support of ICNA Relief Chicago’s Muslim Family Services.
2. Islamic Center Of Naperville (ICN), Naperville, and Muslim Society Inc ( MSI), Glendale Heights, were awarded for their extensive collaboration, especially with Muslim Family Services and Transitional Housing.
3. Islamic Center of Wheaton (ICW) was recognized for collaborating on projects such as the Back2School campaign,Toy Drive and Meat drive, and for signing up to work shoulder-to-shoulder with ICNA Relief’s Refugee Empowerment Initiative and Transitional Housing Initiative.
4. Universal School, Bridgeview, Islamic Community Center of Des Plaines ( ICCD), Des Plaines, and Masjid Al-Huda, Schaumburg, were all recognized for strengthening the ICNA Relief Food Drive.
5. Islamic Foundation School was awarded for its donation of $4000 towards ICNA Relief Chicago’s food pantries, in addition to its contributions of hygiene kits and toys.
6. Masjid Al Farooq was recognized for providing space to distribute backpacks, meat, toys and more.
7. Br. Mohammed Misbahuddin played a leading role in establishing all ICNA Relief Chicago’s projects and services and especially the Transitional housing project and was the single individual to have received an award.
ICNA Relief Banquet Inspires Audiences to Create a Better Tomorrow for Neighbors
April 1, 2015 - We get so used to our life that we forget the underserved. When we consider giving charity, the devil scares us with the thought of having less for ourselves. But our faith teaches us that we need to be the first to attend to the needs of the vulnerable, said keynote speaker, Mufti Kamani, at ICNA Relief Chicago’s Annual Banquet on April 19, 2015, inspiring the 500 plus strong audience to give locally. The dua (supplications) of the person in need are always accepted, said keynote speaker, Mufti Kamani, at ICNA Relief Chicago’s Annual Banquet, inspiring the 500 plus strong audience to give locally.
Sheikh Ibrahim Dardasawi, the official imam at Islamic Center of Wheaton (ICW), inaugurated the evening with a beautiful recitation from the Holy Quran. The fundraiser also featured stand-up comedian and speaker, Azhar Usman. “This is an organization that is there for our sisters who are victims of abuse. Be the community that recognizes its dirty secrets,” said Azhar Usman in opening remarks, urging guests to acknowledge and address violence and abuse of women in the community. Ms. Ahlam Mahmood, Outreach Coordinator, Dr. Mohammad Hassan, Director Outreach & Resource Development, USA, and Dr. Saima Azfar, Director, Midwest and Chicago, were the other speakers and represented ICNA Relief.
The most touching moment of the evening was when Dr. Azfar narrated meeting a family that was so poor they hadn't eaten in three days. “All they had at home was onions. And this is right here in Chicago,” said Dr. Azfar. Each speaker elicited enthusiasm and applause, and audience members loosened purse strings, committing to serving the community. “Many of the cases we see, seem like the plot of a tragic novel or movie, but if only they were. There is a saying, to always be kind because we have no idea what the other person is going through and when you work with ICNA Relief Chicago and its Muslim Family Services, you realize just how true that is,” said Dr. Azfar.
ICNA Relief Chicago Transitional Housing Initiative Adds New Unit in the Suburbs
Where other charities' work often ends, ICNA Relief Chicago's work starts. “We not only cut a check for the needy, but help them get back on their feet as individuals and families,” says Sister Atya Kazmi, Coordinator, Muslim Family Services, providing a brief overview of ICNA Relief Chicago’s ‘Whole-Individual’, holistic approach to well-being. “We offer counseling, driving lessons and legal assistance, help find accommodation, procure cars and even provide job skills training. The intention is to help our clients move out of poverty and find overall emotional health and stability.”
For our transitional housing program, we are approached most by women and children who are homeless. What is the cost, per month, of helping a family get back on their feet? Approximately $3000 including rent, utilities, grocery bills, case management. Would you like a share in the blessings by supporting them?
Donate to http://icnarelief.org and choose Transitional Housing.
Baltimore: Reflections from the Field #spreadlove #Baltimore #BaltimoreRiot
By Malika MacDonald, Director, ICNA Relief Women's Shelter Initiative
My faith called on me to respond. Compelled to travel to Baltimore, MD, to see how ICNA Relief USA could assist, I found a city under siege although very different from what was being portrayed by news outlets.
In downtown Baltimore, I witnessed the eerie abandonment of a city. Blocks of businesses were closed but, oddly, there were no vandals on the street. I stumbled upon what looked like an army base in the middle of the city, only to discover it was City Hall Plaza. The National Guard was there, in full combat fatigues, gripping their assault rifles, perched upon tanks. Yes, tanks invaded the streets of Baltimore, USA.
A Sea of Police
A Sea of Police
I looked upon on a sea of police in riot gear and a convoy of military vehicles, I wondered what they were preparing for? Feeling threatened, my heart began racing, my natural defenses on alert, not knowing what I’d encounter.
I, a white Muslim woman arrived at West North Ave., Ground Zero in Baltimore, and strangely did not find looters and rioters. Instead, I saw a resilient community attempting to survive. As I walked the neighborhood near the CVS that had been burned during the uprisings, I saw devastation that existed long before the murder of Freddie Gray.
Rows upon rows of boarded up buildings that absentee landlords had abandoned years ago. I saw children with nowhere to play except the city block. Their community centers had closed, some even before these kids were born. I observed red, black and blue colors united, so called “gangs” of youth, sitting on stoops of boarded up buildings. These young people that the media described as “thugs” were united to keep the peace within their community.
I saw churches unloading truckloads of food to feed the community, and met with organizers from Ferguson who discussed lessons of a shared struggle. I was greeted with smiles as I walked past residents who were continuing with life as usual. For many in this community, the events leading up to the murder of Freddie Gray were nothing new. It is a reality they live with on a day-to-day basis in this section of Baltimore that’s plagued by some of the worst poverty in the country.
Boots on the Ground
When I reached Masjid ul-Saffat, an Islamic Center established in 1971 and home to the Muslim Social Service Agency (MSSA), I saw they already had boots on the ground. There was a nursing home and two senior centers in the vicinity that they were serving. ICNA Relief USA teamed up with MSSA to serve those hardest hit by the recent uprisings - senior citizens. Many residents used wheelchairs or walkers, and now had no access to basic necessities. ICNA Relief USA and MSSA brought short term relief by providing basic food staples and personal hygiene products.
Masjid ul-Saffat was one of numerous indigenous Muslim Islamic Centers and organizations to take a leading role in their community, but lacked the resources to bring about greater systemic change. The Muslim response in Baltimore has been extraordinary but the need will remain for some time. ICNA Relief USA has committed to supporting these organizations by soliciting resources, providing trainings and consultation for long term development projects needed to improve the Baltimore community. Our ICNA-MAS Convention that is to be held in Baltimore from May 23-25, 2015 will be host a Town Hall discussion examining the root causes that led up to the Baltimore riots.
Caption for photo: Sr. Malika MacDonald (above), Director, ICNA Relief Women's Shelter Initiative, joined the 300 Men March, a community activist group against gun violence, in Park Heights, to call for the fair treatment of all people. - April 28, 2015.
Please Donate to Help Our Efforts. Everyone Pitching in Even a Little Adds Up! http://icnarelief.org/Donation
Monday, March 23, 2015
Face-to-Face with ICNA Relief & Sister Amtul Atya Kazmi,Coordinator Muslim Family Services, Chicago
When our MFS helpline was launched back in March 2014, we began getting calls from needy families and single mothers from all over Illinois. Needy families and struggling sisters approached us. After proper screening, we see to it that everyone gets the required help. Whether it is transitional housing, rental assistance, paying utility bills, providing cars or counseling and mentoring, we try our best to ease their plight and guide them. We coordinate with local masjids and other social service organizations to empower the under-served and neglected to become self-sufficient, integrated members of our community.
PARENTS ARE ONE'S FIRST TEACHERS
We were a family of ten children and, despite our modest means, it never kept my mother from opening her door to help others. She was my first role model. My father was also such a noble example of someone who valued honesty and a halal income. He was a Judge in India. I remember once, when we were little, someone who had a case pending had sent a basket of fruits as a gift for him. At that time I didn’t realize that it was an attempt to try and influence him, but my father saw it clearly. He had the fruits returned immediately.
We were a family of ten children and, despite our modest means, it never kept my mother from opening her door to help others. She was my first role model. My father was also such a noble example of someone who valued honesty and a halal income. He was a Judge in India. I remember once, when we were little, someone who had a case pending had sent a basket of fruits as a gift for him. At that time I didn’t realize that it was an attempt to try and influence him, but my father saw it clearly. He had the fruits returned immediately.
"[Given those experiences] what better opportunity could I have than working for ICNA Relief Chicago’s Muslim Family Services (MFS) where I can be in direct contact with those who are struggling and need assistance. It reminds me of the immense blessings Allah ta’ala has granted us and, as importantly, the huge accountability that comes with it. It gives me immense joy and comfort to be able to relieve someone’s difficulty. I am excited about all the programs run by ICNA and hope these enable our Muslim community to participate fully in building a society that is based on core human values of justice, compassion and love."
Your Compassion At Work - A Testimonial
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| Sister Habeeba (Center) |
- Habeeba. ICNA Relief beneficiary for a 3-6 month duration.
Chicago-Area Moms Give The Mommy League Two Thumbs-Up
March 8th saw the launch of The Mommy League (www.theleagueofmoms.com), anICNA Relief Chicago offering that includes free babysitting, help with a grocery-run, errands, light-housekeeping, home-cooked meals and lactation consulting services, for moms of babies.
Moms have been helping moms since the beginning of time. But I wanted to make sure that moms who are new to the area, or move to a city after marriage, too have the support system they need once they have a child, said Sammar Zahra, Director of The Mommy League, who herself moved to the Chicago area from Mississippi.
"They, too, need someone they can go to."
“This project is much needed,” said LaTonia Anthony, a Villa Park resident and mom of four daughters under the age of five. Other mothers at the launch agreed. “If your child or you are sick, you can’t even go and get Tylenol yourself, unless your husband is at hand. Since first-time moms are often going through these experiences alone, they really need a support system to overcome these new challenges,” said Khadeeja Iqbal, of Hoffman Estates.
As Khadeeja Iqbal sees it The Mommy League also has the potential to bridge the gap between new mothers and grandmothers. “My son had ulcerative colitis which is severe diarrhea, and it results in terrible diaper rash. I’d use the doctor’s remedies with no results. Finally, using a tip from my mother- in-law, I applied butter instead. It cured the diaper rash by as much as 80%. The nurses in the hospital were astounded to see that much improvement. New mothers can be dismissive of the older generation and traditional knowledge but the Mommy League can invite grandmothers and have them share their insights. Personally speaking, I find it really helps to have an older person in the house guiding you.”
“I would love to volunteer because I would have given an arm to have this help when my twins were born,” said Huda Quraishi-Ahmed. “I would like to see these services extended to the elderly population also. (It’s a) great community service opportunity for youth also. Where do I sign up?”
For further details, please contact ICNA Relief Chicago; (866) 552-ICNA, (630)-506-2312; moms@icnarelief.org ; 1701 Bloomingdale Road, Glendale Heights, IL 60139.
Transitional Housing - ICNA Relief Chicago Meets A Dire Need
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Br. Misbahuddin (Center) at an Appreciation Luncheon organized by ICNA Relief for its Volunteers.
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“There was a sister who had been living in her car, with her baby, for two weeks when we came to know of her situation through others. She didn’t even approach us herself,” says Br.Mohammed Misbahuddin of Glendale Heights. As a former Muslim Society Inc. (MSI) Board Member, he has been involved in Zakat distribution for the past 20 years. “This was one case that really made me think about the need for a long term solution. There are a lot of Muslim families who hesitate to approach Masjids,” he says. “They feel their situation will be exposed. These services have to be separate so people feel comfortable."
A Collaborative Beginning
In May 2015, ICNA Relief Chicago will rent its first transitional housing apartment in Glendale Heights. This will build on ICNA Relief ‘s transitional housing initiatives currently underway in Chicago. “ICNA Relief representatives met with Glendale Heights Village officials who suggested we identify a 4-6 multi-family housing apartment unit, for transitional housing. In the mean time, the Village has give us permission to rent apartments for that, so long as we have permission from the respective associations. There is a dire need and, mashallah, we are on track to meeting it, God willing,” says Dr. Saima Azfar, Director, ICNA Relief Chicago.
“In the last 7 months, we have served two families comprising divorcees with children for six months each, housing them in an apartment rented as transitional housing in Chicago. Alhumdolillah, we also provided rental assistance for eleven families for one to six months each. This was made possible thanks to the collaboration of 10 mosques including MSI, ICW, ICN, Alhuda, ICCD, MCC, MEC, IFS, IFN and ISNS, ” says Dr. Azfar.
Advocating for Long-term Solutions
"We get at least two calls a month from women and families, including refugees, who are facing eviction or seeking shelter. In the winter, the demand is even higher. Other masjids may get more calls from others,” says Br. Misbahuddin.
Currently, area masjids such as MSI, Masjid Al Huda, Islamic Center of Naperville (ICN), Islamic Center of Des Plaines (ICCD) and Islamic Foundation Mosque (IFS), share information related to temporary housing requests and pool zakat to collectively pay for accommodation at a local long-term motel or towards rent for an apartment. “A lot of times, we receive cases of eviction - people who've lost their jobs. We pay electricity and heating directly to ComEd and Nicor. We give rental assistance directly to the landlord,” says Br. Misbah.
Advocating for long-term solutions he says,“We need something of our own where we can situate these families for two-three months. Provide shelter but also help them find a job and offer counseling. ICNA Relief offers that,” says Br. Misbah. “Instead of duplicating efforts, local masjids can pitch in and help the ICNA Relief Transitional Housing project be successful.”
For further details, please contact me Dr. Saima Azfar, Director ICNA Relief Chicago;(630)-506-2312; sazfar@icnarelief.org
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