#Community
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4 Life Lessons from IRUSA’s Peru Challenge
We reflect on a life-changing expedition for a life-changing cause 1 “The goal is not simply for you to cross the finish line, but to see how many people you can inspire to run with you.” ― Simon Sinek If we told you we could bring strangers half-way around the world to climb endlessly and walk on the edge of cliffs all while depending on each other just so we could support life-saving water projects, would you believe us? In the beginning there were doubts about what, when, and how it would even happen but the Peru challenge did what all IRUSA challenges have been successful at doing, it brought people together…
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First-Ever IRUSA Meal Pack Out IN Harrisburg, PA, Shows Power of Love
IRUSA, Rise Against Hunger, Islamic Society of Greater Harrisburg, and volunteers come together to serve those in need Coming Together Aligning with five of the sustainable development goals of the United Nations has empowered IRUSA to be able to focus intensely on areas of concern for vulnerable communities. One of those goals is to end hunger. Though ending hunger in the world is an effort many in humanitarian spaces see as a challenging effort, requiring belief and commitment, it is a priority that we have put our collective hearts into. On November 9th, almost 100 hearts from Rise Above Hunger, Islamic Society of Greater Harrisburg, and other members of the…
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Smiles Galore as Mohammed Assaf visits IRUSA Projects
Written by Fareeha Amir, IRUSA Multimedia Manager who travelled with a group of staff with Mohammed Assaf to Jordan in August 2019. Edited by Kelly El-Yacoubi. Mohammed Assaf’s smile is contagious. So it’s no surprise that when he visited Islamic Relief USA projects in Jordan this past August, his positivity came right along with him. The Palestinian singer is most well-known for winning the second season of Arab Idol in 2013, the precursor to his immense popularity as a singer and celebrity figure in the Middle East. But Assaf’s influence extends beyond the microphone. As a child he grew up in a refugee camp in Gaza, an experience that has…
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3 Easy Ways to do Facebook Birthdays Right
Before we begin, we must say HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! We pray Allah grants you many more spins around the sun. Birthdays are special because they remind us of how precious the time we get on earth is. What better way to celebrate that than giving from your heart and blessings?! Facebook Birthdays are gaining traction with more and more people giving their family and friends the opportunity to give to humanitarian causes. So, here are some ways to make your Facebook birthday campaign successful. Facebook has helped us make it easy to do. Ok, here we go! 1. Who, What, Where….. Your description means everything. A pro tip is to make…
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Visitors from IR Kenya Highlight Transformative Impact of US Support
Islamic Relief partner offices visit Capitol Hill Donations from Islamic Relief USA supporters, as well as US government funding, play a vital role in programs that are overcoming interfaith conflict and lifting people out of poverty in some of the world’s most difficult and dangerous places. That was the message of representatives from Islamic Relief Kenya and Islamic Relief Worldwide as they visited the United States in mid-July 2019 to meet representatives of USAID, the Kenyan embassy, and various officials on Capitol Hill. The visiting delegation included Naser Haghamed, CEO of Islamic Relief Worldwide, Obaid Rahman, Country Director of Islamic Relief Kenya, and Gloria Kivuva, Communications Officer for Islamic Relief…
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2 Thoughts on Finding a Hajj State of Mind
Wrapped in Love A house with solid pillars holds firm, can survive the worst storms, and keeps the people that live inside safe. So too is the beauty of the five pillars of Islam: with the adoption of each pillar, another layer of security wraps around the heart. When the intentions of Hajj are made and Allah allows a believer to place their feet upon the pilgrimage, fulfilling that pillar forever changes the heart of the one who is blessed to go. As the 2019 Hajj season approaches, the words of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ ring loudly and true: “Whoever performs Hajj and does not commit any obscenity or transgression will…
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Islamic Relief USA’s Goals Centered On Compassion and Social Justice
The following is a guest blog post by Amna Amin, an intern with Islamic Relief USA’s Public Affairs department. Muslims have been in the United States since the 1600s, as many people who identified with the Islamic tradition were among those taken across the ocean via the atrocities of the slave trade in Africa. Of the slaves brought over, approximately 15% were Muslim. Even more had contact with Islam before coming to North America. Consequently, Islamic values became embedded within the earliest culture of the United States. In fact, Thomas Jefferson, one of our founding fathers, owned a Qur’an and even wanted to specifically mention Muslims and their religious freedom…
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Islamic Relief USA Invited To Tour New Headquarters for Food Bank of Delaware
It was a proud moment for the Food Bank of Delaware on the morning of Friday, June 21, 2019. The agency’s brand new, 80,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art food bank—complete with two enormous, walk-in coolers, a freezer, a huge staging area, a cafe, and greenhouses containing locally grown vegetables like tomatoes and peppers—is a symbol of modernity and creativity. Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA) was one of the lucky 200-plus guests to receive an invitation to the facility’s grand opening ceremony. IRUSA has been a strong supporter of the organization, having awarded grants to the agency. U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Delaware), the first lady of Delaware, and various county officials were among the…
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IRUSA Team Challenges Gear Up to Support Water Crises
Out of many challenges, comes one goal: WATER. IRUSA is moving into its second year of team challenges and our host teams are excited to take part in what participants from last year called “exciting” and “fulfilling.” In March 2019, the Islamic Relief USA team trekked across the Sahara in Morocco. In the coming months our teams will travel to Bosnia, Turkey, and Peru. But the why is the most important ingredient of all. Team challenges present a fun an innovative way to support crucial projects that IRUSA is partnering to provide. Here’s a look at what those are: Drought Takes Hold in Somalia Global warming is a crisis IRUSA…
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No Home Doesn’t Mean No Dinner
Islamic Relief USA shares a Ramadan tradition with our neighbors in Washington, D.C. A Powerful Tradition For the last four years, a group of volunteers have been showing up to Franklin Square Park in Washington, D.C., to break their fast with the local population who happen to be homeless. What do we mean by ‘with’ the local population? The Islamic Relief USA community has taken a number of opportunities to provide meals for the homeless, but rarely do we take the time to sit down, have a meal, and just kick back and spend time with them. Starting with the Heart In Ramadan 2019, Islamic Relief USA decided to put…
