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The
logo of the Dallas Muslim charity day.
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DALLAS,
May 13, 2006 (IslamOnline.net) – Reaching out to help needy
Americans, Dallas Muslims are organizing their first annual Islamic
Charity Day next Saturday, May 20.
Organized
by the Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) Islamic Association, the event will
include handing out food, clothing, toys and hygiene items to needy
American families, Muslims and non-Muslims, according to the website
of the Muslim Dallas Relief group.
It
will also bring T-shirts, socks, undergarments, diapers and supplies
of non-perishable food.
Among
senior US officials attending the Day are Mayor Pro-Tem Don Hill,
Dallas City Councilman Leo V. Chaney and State Representative Yvonne
Davis.
The
DFW Islamic Association is a group comprised of various Islamic relief
organizations and mosques within the DFW area.
While
there is no scientific count of Muslims in the US, six to seven
million is the most commonly cited figure.
Muslims
and Arabs have taken the brunt of the Patriot Act and other federal
powers applied in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, according to a
May 2004 report released by the US Senate Office Of Research.
US
Muslims, including students, have since then been championing local
campaigns to reach out to fellow Americans and convey the peaceful
message of Islam and clear media stereotypes.
Health
Care
The
Islamic Charity Day will also bring together volunteer doctors, nurses
to do health screenings for needy families in the area.
They
will be performing diabetes, and cholesterol testing, blood pressure
checks and general health screening.
The
Muslim minority in the United States has championed a series of major
humanitarian efforts to help needy and distressed people in the
country.
A
coalition of major American Islamic groups formed a task force to
coordinate humanitarian relief for the victims of Hurricane Katrina,
raising some $10 million for the effort.
The
kind gesture was applauded by senior US officials, including Secretary
of State Condoleezza Rice.
Hailing
the compassion, cooperation and charity reflected in Islam, Rice said
in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Muslim nations extended some of the
most generous offers of support that America received.
The
Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA) has further
established the first Muslim-run pantry in the United States.
The
Sabeel Food Pantry provides food stuffs and other consumables to the
needy, the hungry and the homeless of Americans irrespective of their
religions or backgrounds.
