Ramadan observance sparks backpack giveaway in Queens

Aug. 18, 2010 - PRLog -- JAMAICA, New York (August 18, 2010) - The Queens chapter of the Islamic Circle of North America plans to give out free school bags and school supplies to the Jamaica community in Queens this coming Sunday, August 22nd 2010, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, where Muslims abstain from food and drink during daytime hours.

500 needy children will receive school bags filled with supplies at the event, one bag per child present. Each bag will contain supplies including notebooks, pens, pencils, sharpeners, erasers, rulers, crayons and more. Hundreds of families are expected to attend the event. The event is open to all, no matter their race, gender or religion.

This initiative hopes to cater to needs of low income families in the Jamaica 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.

This Queens event is a part of a larger project; this month, giveaways are also being hosted by ICNA in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Staten Island, Long Island and Westchester. Last Weekend the event was held in Staten Island and Long Island, where hundreds of families attended, forming long lines before the opening of the event. According to a local member of ICNA, Umer Alam, “We were surprised by the large attendance; this only implies that these initiatives are in high demand due to the current economic downturn and the high prices of school supplies.”

Date & Time:
Sunday, August 22, 2010
2:00pm – 4:00pm

Location:
Masjid Alhamdulillah
121-03 Sutphin Blvd
Jamaica, NY 11436

Press Contact: Shahid Farooqi
Outreach Coordinator
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.