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As this beautiful season heralds in the end of another chapter of life and welcomes in the new year, we mark a decade of history at UMF, of feeding the homeless and needy, promoting education and empowering youth. We look forward to many more years ahead insha-Allah, affecting the physical, intellectual and emotional needs of children with your support. Have you ever thought about what happens to the homeless children without their free and reduced lunches, when school is out for 2 weeks at Christmas time or over 3 months of summer vacation? There are children who have no food or warm clothes this winter and every second out in the cold, malnourished, means they are prone to falling sick, with no money or insurance for medicine or a heath check. As you cuddle with your little ones tonight, tucked under a warm blanket, please remember the shivering, homeless children of Seminole County whom UMF Hungerteam serves, featured twice on 60 Minutes. Or better yet, join UMF Hungerteam this Saturday, Dec 21st, and witness for yourself the difference we make to the homeless and hungry. The cause is real and visible. The children and their families are even more real, even though they may try to hide their need. UMF is short by $12,000 of our fundraising goal for the year, and we urge you to donate generously. All your donations are tax deductible and make a world of difference. As Nelson Mandella said: "Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Like Slavery and Apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings. Sometimes it falls on a generation to be great. YOU can be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom." Sincerely, Masuma Virji Director & Co-Founder, United Muslim Foundation |
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UMF HungerTeam has expanded to include the UMF Breakfast Club for the homeless and hungry, our Birthday Club for homeless children & adopting Midway Elementary through our Guides program. We celebrate birthdays, host trivia games, read books and empower those who need us with food, clothes, education, love and so much more!
How? Watch THIS to find out!
Join UMF Hungerteam this Saturday, Dec 21st to help make a difference. |
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UMF Guides Raise Over $3,000
Who says kids can't make a difference? At UMF, we pride ourselves on empowering youths. UMF Guides raised over $3,000 at our Charity Presentation and SilentAuction for Midway Elementary School this month with their beautiful works of art and excellent presentations on charity. Midway Elementary has over 75% students in Free and Reduced Lunch and Barbara Keller spoke about how this was the first community initiative of it's kind, that she had ever seen in all her many years at Midway and what a great difference our Guides program was making to their school. Arig Wageeh Elhamouly of AmeriCorps, who spoke of the need in Seminole County, was really touched by what she witnessed at Guides and Stella Tagliavore, of the Lake Mary Art Studio, was proud of all our Guides and spoke of how very well mannered they all were and what a great job they had all done. We love our Guides and thank God for the amazing spark of light they bring into the world with their determination.
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Food, Fun and Friends?! What more could you ask for?
This month we decided to have a UMF Youth BBQ instead of a Coffee Encounters to mark our decade of service. UMF gathered Youths to sign up for UMF projects and network with one another for opportunities to improve ourselves and our communities. Things even got a little stringy! Check out the fun!
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UMF PA: "PROJECT KEEP WARM"
To read press release, click here
United Muslim Foundation's PA Chapter has partnered with Woodlawn Memorial Park to initiate "Project Keep Warm." Project Keep Warm aims to collect new or gently-used blankets, coats and jackets, gloves, winter-scarves and sweaters for the Lehigh Valley's needy. Al-Ahad Islamic Center will host collection until January 3rd. The project, sponsored by Lehigh Valley Business Group, brings together many organizations that believe "no one should be cold" in the winter season.
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Building Interfaith Coalitions
On Saturday December 7th, UMF along with the the Allentown Youth Committee and Madressa Committee organized an interfaith at Al-Ahad Islamic Center with St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. Alhamdulillah, there was a great turn out. The event started off with a brief introduction from both the Pastor and Brother Anthony, followed by a tour of the center given by Brother Mohammed Hussein Rajmohamed, and then two separate sessions: one for the adults, led by Pastor Nelson and Brother Anthony, and one for the youth, led by Sister Kulsum Soonasra and Brother Irfan Gangji.
The session for the adults focused on how parents get their children involved in faith, and struggles that they face. The youth, on the other hand, participated in a workshop that discussed both faiths, and highlighted similarities between both religions. The youth from both religious centers were very curious, respectful, and kind towards one another; they truly benefited from the workshop and each side left with more knowledge than they came in with. The interfaith ended with a traditional Indian meal of butter chicken and rice, as well as baklava for dessert. The members of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church were reluctant to leave, but both the church and mosque members formed a bond, and promised to organize another event, this time at the church, in the near future!
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Jazak-Allah Khair
As we look forward to the next 10 Years of Service, we THANK YOU and our Discount Card vendors and Sponsors for your continued support and generosity.
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UMF is eager to see all Muslim Services advertised on our website. If you'd like to advertise your business (only $100 monthly) or to join the Guides Discount Card Promo to reach a wide audience let us know!
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"I have to check my calendar!"
Trying to figure out what's going on this weekend? Fear not! UMF's newest venture, our Affiliate Events Calendar is here to help! Powered by Google, our calendar features events from all our affiliates and much more! Interested in marketing your event? Contact: info@unitedmuslimfoundation.org |
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