Face-to-Face with ICNA Relief & Sister Amtul Atya Kazmi,Coordinator Muslim Family Services, Chicago

“Following the 9/11 incident, I strongly felt the need to join an organization committed to bringing about positive change, not just at the individual level, but within the community at large. My search led me to ICNA Sister's Wing and I am truly grateful to Allah (swt) for guiding me to it. It fused my quest for Islamic knowledge with opportunities to actively participate in building the community through volunteerism. Then came the opportunity for relief work when ICNA Relief Chicago’s Muslim Family Services (MFS) was established in 2013.  Its vision is to build strong communities by sustaining and strengthening families. This is indeed a huge task and with the help of Allah (swt), a dedicated team, and with collaboration from other organizations,we can build a society that can truly see us as Muslims For Humanity.

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.

"[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

Sister Habeeba (Center)

“ICNA Relief has helped me a lot. As a visually-impaired person, and a divorcee with two kids, it was a great stress for me to meet rental payments, bills and kids expenses. Alhumdulillah, with the help of Allah (swt) and through ICNA Relief, I have been relieved of this constant stress. I was helped with rental assistance, food from the pantry and also they are working to get my kids in weekend Islamic school. I feel blessed to find Islam and pray for my relatives and friends that they find the light too.”
- 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

Br. Misbahuddin (Center) at an Appreciation Luncheon organized by ICNA Relief for its Volunteers.

“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