Ramadan stirs Staten Island Muslim group to give away free school bags and school supplies

Aug. 13, 2010 - PRLog -- Staten Island, New York (August 12, 2010) - The Staten Island chapter of the Islamic Circle of North America plans to give out free school bags and school supplies to the Staten Island community this coming Sunday, August 15th 2010, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

500 school bags will be given out to the public at the event, one bag per child present. Each bag will be filled with several supplies, including notebooks, pens, pencils, sharpeners, erasers, rulers, crayons, and more.

This initiative hopes to cater to needs of low income families in the Staten Island community. Many families are under financial pressure; some have lost jobs and find it difficult to buy school supplies for their children. Besides abstaining from food and drink during daytime hours, the month of Ramadan gives special importance to increasing in charitable acts. Fasting in Ramadan also develops compassion for those who are poor and needy, thereby inspiring the act of giving. Through the Back to School Giveaway, ICNA hopes to both help struggling families provide for their children and inspire the American Muslim community to partake in this commendable act.

The Staten Island event is a part of a larger project; this month, giveaways are also being hosted by ICNA in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, Queens, and Westchester. Last Saturday the event was held in the South Bronx, where also 500 school bags were given out. According to ICNA-NY Outreach Director Omar Ranginwala, “The event began with the long line of attendees reaching the end of the block…After receiving the school bags people left with smiles.”

Date & Time:
Sunday, August 15, 2010
2:00pm – 4:00pm

Location:
Albanian Islamic Cultural Center
307 Victory Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10301

Press Contact: Omar Ranginwala
Outreach Director
Islamic Circle of North America—NY
E-mail: pr@icnany.org
Office: 1-646-820-ICNA (4262)
Website: www.icnany.org

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The Islamic Circle of North America is an American Muslim organization dedicated to the betterment of society through promoting Islamic values. ICNA works to build community relations by devoting itself to education, outreach, and social service.