All praise is due to Allah, Muslim Community Services of San Diego, in conjunction with the Islamic Center of San Diego, just finished our first shift working with the Interfaith Shelter Network's Rotational Shelter Program. For five days, volunteers from the Muslim Community provided meals and overnight supervision for homeless families and individuals staying in the shelter.
The Interfaith Shelter Network has been providing shelter to homeless people in San Diego for over 20 years. Currently, about 120 congregations in San Diego county participate in the ISN Rotational Shelter program. About 60 of the congregations host the program in their facilities for two or four weeks a year and the remainder serve in a support role, providing volunteers for meals and overnight hosting, transportation and donations.
During this Fall Rotation, MCSSD/ICSD served a shift in the support role, officially becoming the first Muslim organizations to participate in this important program.
God Willing, we hope to take on a longer shift during the next rotation. May Allah reward all of the people who volunteered and contributed. For more information about ISN, go to their website at http://www.interfaithshelter.org.
May Allah Most High reward everyone you contributed, and may He accept your fasting, prayers and good deeds.
Family Sponsorship Program
MCSSD launched a "Family Sponsorship Program" to collect Zakaat and Sadaqa for widows living with their orphaned children in San Diego County. All praise is due to Allah, we collected enough zakat and sadaqa during the month of Ramadan to sponsor one family for a year.
Homeless Care Packages
We tested out a pilot project in which we asked community members to donate a number of specific items for homeless people. All praise is due to Allah, the project was very successful. From these donations, MCSSD assembled 40 packages which included a number of high quality hygenic items, as well as fruit, snacks, juice and water, and for a special touch, a hand written note from a Muslim youth. Packages were given directly to people living on the streets of San Diego.
Iftars for Refugees
MCSSD hosted weekly iftars for refugee families in El Cajon, where the local mosque recently burnt down. The number of people in attendance grew every week from 30 to 50. Many of the families had recently arrived in the United States and had no family or community ties, and no transportation, so it was a blessing to be able to invite them for iftar and help them break fast with other Muslims during Ramadan. The iftars were also a good opportunity for Muslims who needed to pay fidya (expiatory payments for missed fasts due to long term illness, etc.) to fulfill their obligation by feeding needy people.
Visiting Trips
MCSSD restarted our visiting trip program in which brothers and sisters visit with new refugee families and welcome them to the San Diego area. During these trips, community members carpool out to visit with the families at their new homes. We bring small house warming gifts and spend a short time visiting with the family - giving them information about San Diego, and answering any questions they might have. During Ramadan we hosted two trips and met with families from Uzbekistan, Russia, Afghanistan and Somalia.
Eid Toy Drive
MCSSD organized an Eid Toy drive . We collected more than 140 gifts from a number of local mosques and distribute them to impoverished Muslim children
School Drive a success!
All praise is due to Allah, this year Muslim Community Services of San Diego, in co-sponsorship with CAIR-SD, collected school supplies for almost 80 impoverished children in San Diego County. Many of these children are orphans and/or refugees. Because of your donations, these children are better prepared to learn and succeed at school this year.
Because so many people gave so generously, the children received essential supplies (paper, notebooks, pencils, pens, etc.), as well as a number of specialized items (like calculators, book covers, staplers, and pencil sharpeners).
We distributed supplies to almost twice as many kids as last year. God Willing, next year's school supplies drive will be even more successful!
