#Newsletter
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They’ll Need Ramadan Food Boxes more than Ever
Because of the current public health crisis families will squeezed even more by food shortages It’s so near it’s basically here Ramadan is coming, can you feel it? The anticipation is growing as we contemplate the arrival of the most special month in the Islamic calendar. Everyone has their own special Ramadan traditions, whether it’s your mum’s cooking, or getting the chance to go to the mosque every evening with your dad for tarawih, or just spending iftar with your family and friends. There are some things we all share in common though, the chance to expand our knowledge, to improve our spiritual wealth and to deeply connect with Allah. …
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Revisiting the Syrian Refugee Crisis: Hopes and Frustrations with Marwa Aly
A journal entry from Trinity College Muslim Chaplain Marwa Aly during her time in Jordan with Syrian refugees IRUSA invited a group of dynamic women community leaders on a visit to Islamic Relief USA’s Projects in Jordan serving Syrian refugees. It expose them, and educate them first hand about IRUSA’s women’s empowerment projects in Jordan, as well as the refugee projects. It was an opportunity to not only meet the staff and volunteers who make the delivery of humanitarian aid possible, but to come face-to-face with the very people we serve. How Perspectives can Change Today was both an uplifting and perspective-shifting day as we traveled to both Ramtha and…
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DRT Returns to Continue Houston Recovery
IRUSA Disaster Response Team to Hold Home-Rebuilding Sessions in Hurricane Harvey-Ravaged Houston, Texas Islamic Relief USA’s (IRUSA) Disaster Response Team (DRT) will hold two week-long sessions of its popular, ongoing home rebuilding project in Houston, Texas, repairing houses that were damaged by Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Volunteers will lodge at the new dormitory, made possible by a grant from the American Red Cross, among other resources. The dorm will house dozens of people, helping create a spirit of teamwork, camaraderie, and mission. The first week-long session is scheduled for Feb. 23-29. The next opportunity to volunteer is during the week of March 15-21. Slots are still available. “We are truly…
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A Warm Hello from IRUSA’s New Chairman, Hamadi Bengabsia
IRUSA’s new Chairman shares a message of gratitude and belief in the next generation of humanitarian relief Assalaam Alaykum, On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am writing to thank every one of our supporters who have helped work towards Islamic Relief USA’s tremendous progress in recent years. Without your tenacity, innovation, and commitment to excellence, our organization would not have experienced such significant growth and emerged as a faith-based leader in the humanitarian and development sector. That growth has meant life-changing service a possibility for people all over the world. Your compassion arrived in the darkest hour for more families than we can measure. I want to further…
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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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Responding to California Wildfires When It Matters Most
What the West Coast is facing In California, it’s been known for years that all it takes is a brief moment of wind to start a catastrophic wildfire. People who live in the state enjoy the welcoming weather and sweet aroma of the air, along with some of the most scenic landscapes in the country. But due to the fact that wildfires are a reality that looms over California, many remained prepared for the worst. For those who haven’t been fortunate enough to make arrangements in the case of a fire, their need for support is incalculable. When Beth and Albert found themselves among the hardest hit by wildfires in…
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What a Difference a Day of Dignity Makes
IRUSA Day of Dignity events connect with hearts and communities Ending the year off right The year isn’t complete at IRUSA with connecting with communities across the U.S. for the annual Day of Dignity events. It’s a project partners, communities, and staff look forward to being a part of. Emergency services, food parcels, and care packages are made available. Each year the efforts building deeper bonds and have deeper impacts. In places like Bronx New York, community members came from far and wide to get things such as health screenings and hygiene kits. “This is also an opportunity for the local Muslim community to demonstrate we can be service providers…
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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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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…
