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Sharing Meat with Families in Need: Worship and Service Join on Eid
One-quarter of the world’s population is anemic, according to the World Health Organization. That includes nearly half of all preschool-age children. In that age group, almost half of all deaths are due to undernutrition—that’s about 3 million children every year. For many impoverished families, one major factor in their poor health is their inability to buy meat. On Eid al-Adha, IRUSA donors will turn worship a blessing for many of those families by sending them a gift of meat. Qurbani—also known as Udhiyah—is IRUSA’s biggest food program. This fresh, halal meat donors share is often the only meat the recipients eat all year. It’s both a rare holiday treat and…
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A Firefighter in Houston: Rescuer and Evacuee
Firefighter Irfan Mujeebuddin in Houston lived through Hurricane Harvey from two perspectives at once — both as a rescue worker and an evacuee. Irfan was on shift at the fire station the Sunday night after the hurricane struck Texas. A tornado had taken the roof off a friend’s home, but the winds had died down. “It was almost a sigh of relief that there were some damages that were sustained but we made it through,” he said. That is, until they realized the worst was still to come—floodwaters, rising slowly but relentlessly. ‘A Very Tough Night’ Irfan lives west of Houston, a stone’s throw from two dams that protect the downtown…
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A Day Off for Eid and a Special Meal — It’s a Luxury
In the U.S., most families try to take the day off of work and school for Eid to make it more special. This Eid, think about what a luxury that is. Because for Saleha, taking off would make the day less special. Saleha, in Bangladesh, goes to work on Eid like she does any other day. If she were to take off, the family would celebrate by having even less to eat. Saleha’s husband is too old and sick to work, and her son-in-law passed away, so she supports her family of seven all alone by working as a maid. They need the money she earns each day—about $1.85 to…
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Dignity on the Streets of Philadelphia
Lina Hashem is a Writer at Islamic Relief USA. She recently attended Day of Dignity in Philadelphia and wrote about her experience. Lamarr could be anything. He’s smart as a whip. He loves to read, and he researched Islamic Relief USA before spreading the word about Day of Dignity. He loves his bike like richer men love their sports cars, and he prides himself on his clean, neat clothes. He also sleeps on a bench in a Philadelphia park and knows where to turn up for food and clothes. On Oct. 8, at Day of Dignity in Philadelphia, he had ticket number 199. I don’t know why Lamarr is homeless.…
