Salaam Alaikum/Peace be with you,
UMF has just confirmed with the US State Dept.
that we will be sponsoring some of the refugee families being evacuated from
Gaza. These families could arrive in as little as a week from their
transit point in Jordan.
We are insha-Allah planning to host two of the families in FL and one in PA (our active UMF member bases).
We
have been told that there are between 3-8 people in each family. In
addition to supporting them for at least 6 months, we will need a lot of
volunteers to help us form a support group for each family to help them
settle down, get grief counseling,
get licenses, help the children with homework, possibly help to translate for them, and help the families
find means to support themselves among other things.
Below is a list of estimated cost we will bear over the 6 month period:
Cost for rent per household of 5 is approx. $750 per month
Cost for living expenses for a household of 5 is approx. $1,000 per month
Cost for a used car is approx. $3,000 per family
Cost for telephone/internet is approx $50 per month
The
State Dept. will only be able to confirm if we will need to cover
the cost of air travel to the US after the refugees get to Jordan. We
might also be faced with a situation where Humanitarian Aid Refugees on
Parole will be coming who will not be eligible for Medicaid. While US
citizens will be able to apply for Medicaid, it will take some time for
the application process to go through and we might incur medical costs
in the meantime. These are factors that may affect much larger costs we
will be required to cover.
If you can help in any way with
resources, lodging, or your time or money - however little you may be
able to offer - it will be greatly appreciated. We would also like to
urge more organizations and mosques to partner with us in this effort
to help the afflicted victims of Gaza. And we would like to call upon
all Doctors, Lawyers and other specialists who may be able to help in
the community to please come forward so we may contact you if needed.
We
have all heard the news, some have held vigils and others have protested,
but you are now being called upon to act and make a difference right
here, right now.
Please visit www.unitedmuslimfoundation.org to make your donation online or contact me directly at Masuma@unitedmuslimfoundation.org for more information or to make a contribution.
If
for some reason the evacuation does not materialize, we would pass on
the funds to a relief organization helping the victims of this crisis,
unless you have specified otherwise for a refund when you make your
donation.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Jazak-Allah Khair
Masuma Virji
Executive Director
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United Muslim Foundation
P.O. Box 952934
Lake Mary, Florida 32795-2934
(407) 804-1504 phone
(407) 804-9144 fax
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