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| January 2014
Rabi Al-A'wwal1435
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Salaam Alaikum, Peace be with you
"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."
Giving? Teaching? What a choice! We like to have choices. The choice to eat steak or seafood. The choice to work out or stay in bed. The choice to eat that piece of cake all by yourself, or be nice and share with your little sister. It's kind of nice to have choices. But some of our neighbors don't have such liberties and choices are far more life-altering. For some, it's the choice between electricity or a meal. A shower or docked pay.
But, here's the beautiful thing about choices. Each choice we make has the power to change the world. And each one is interconnected. Just as you can empower a man by teaching him how to fish, you can empower a nation of children to overcome challenges through the UMF Guides program, or give a bicycle to a struggling homeless man so he can make it to work tomorrow with UMF HungerTeam. Just by your choice. Your time. Your donation.
Together, our choices can change the world.
Make a choice today!
- United Muslim Foundation
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 | | UMF HungerTeam - Warming the Hearts of Little Children |
This is a story about how I met my new friend Monique.
As UMF volunteers cooked a hot breakfast Saturday morning, over the sounds of happy chatter and laughter in the kitchen, other volunteers were having fun sorting through clothes and gifts for the needy and playing crafts and peek-a-boo with the children. My eye caught a a few women sitting in a common room, one of them watching us all intently from a distance. I walked over into this room, which had a sign stating that absolutely no one was to be caught eating or drinking there under any circumstance. I began to wonder... how it must be that food is rationed for all in the shelter and how everything must be accounted for. I smiled at the ladies and started to talk to the three women, shaking their hands warmly as I introduced myself and began to compliment the lovely Christmas decor in the room. I noticed two women with head wraps and complimented their styles. One told me about a website called coveryourhair.com where she bought hers from and said I must check it out. I asked the lady who had been gazing at the volunteers with her eyes full of dreams what her name was. Monique, she replied, as she smiled, a lovely tan plaited scarf tied neatly on her head. I asked Monique to teach me the lovely way she wore her scarf and it gave her such a feeling of joy to share this skill, as much joy as my fascination at learning a new way of wearing a scarf. When she was done, Monique began to tell me all about how she used to work in California for an Imam, helping him as he translated books into English. She talked about how she always used to cover up her hair when she went into the mosque there and somehow the idea stuck and she wears it still.
After our chat I got busy with volunteering again and went out to where the crowd was waiting patiently for us to begin our raffle. 7 participants had tied for the 'Seasons' quiz we had given them and so we folded these quizzes and had our three youngest volunteer babies pick out the winners. Three of our young little volunteers handed out the prizes which brought smiles to both those giving and receiving. Hungerteam gives out one grand prize of a bicycle each month and this month we had a teenage boy, probably around the age of 18, win the raffle. He whooped with delight when he heard he was getting a bike and the smile and joy he had was indescribable. I love how all the rest always cheer for the one who wins the bike each month, even if it's not them or someone in their family. I love how they all wait patiently and never fight over the items we lay out on the tables. I love the smiles of satisfaction when they find a nice new outfit or pair of shoes that has been donated and fits them perfectly, or when they pick up the fresh fruit or boxes of chocolates and nuts from the table with delight. And most of all, I love the looks on the children's faces when we bring the homeless birthday kids cakes with candles to blow off and sing for them and give them balloons. Before we left, we applied henna on the hands of the ladies, boys and girls. The kids' favorite is always having their name written in Arabic and our young volunteers are all so skilled, their work is always loved and appreciated.
When we left the shelter today, I felt like I had been invited to share in a Christmas party with new friends. Friends who wished me heartily as I left, waving goodbye, and friends who yelled out "Thank You" with hearts overflowing with joy. And then there was Monique, who got up to hug me over and over again before I left, perhaps because she had made a friend in me, as I had in her - one I could never forget, and even perhaps because our encounter had sparked in her the knowledge and memory of the fact that she was beautiful and talented, and had so much still to give to the world.
- Masuma Virji, UMF HungerTeam
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Calling... Muslim Mental Health Professionals
Collaborating with American Muslim Health Professionals (AMPH), UMF is working to establish a database of Muslim Mental Health Professionals. Members will work to develop content for Muslim Mental Health for publication with AMPH. To sign up, please complete the form online .
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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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UMF PA: "PROJECT KEEP WARM"
United Muslim Foundation's PA Chapter collected over 30 bags and boxes' worth of new and gently-used blankets, coats and jackets, gloves, scarves and sweaters for the Lehigh Valley's Needy. Items collected will be separated, laundered and distributed to shelters in surrounding counties of Lehigh Valley. Project Keep Warm, sponsored by Lehigh Valley Business Group, brings together many organizations that believe "no one should be cold" during the winter season.
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UMF Lends a Helping Hand
Once again, UMF partners with Helping Hands USA! UMF thanks five brave men who loaded one big container for aid overseas. Lifting with their bare hands, volunteers filled and loaded boxes with supplies into a container to be shipped overseas. Thank you to Abbas Lyons, Asif Alidina, Kazim Alidina, Imran Peera, Reza Muchkai, Aliya Alidina Lyons, Fatema Jaffer and little Safina for dedicating their time to give back!
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GUIDES OPEN HOUSE
New Year! New Beginnings!
Join Us for our Open House Information Sessions: |
UMF Guides Information Session
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UMF Lieutenants Information Session
| | Learn more about UMF Guides and sign up your child to participate! | Get involved in UMF Guides and sign up to be a lieutenant! | January 10th at ___
Husseini Islamic Center, Orlando | January 22nd at 8:30PM
Please e-mail UMF Guides for further details. |
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A moment to reflect...
UMF Guides isn't just about the lessons. It's about much more.
It's about breaking through comfort zones:
Parents watched in amazement as Guides who shy away from public speaking actively sought opportunities to present at UMF Guides Charity Presentation in December! Talk about WOW!
It's about building lasting friendships:
"Guides can't wait to see their friends and don't want to miss a moment," parents exclaim! Guides enthusiastically encourage their parents to have more fun!
It's about answering questions:
UMF Guides learn about diversity of faith and find beauty in the religious values of their fellow Guides. A new Guide confided in their parents, "Today, all my questions are answered!" MashaAllah!
Join in the fun... Sign up today!
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We're Award Winning!
United Muslim Foundation's inter-faith portal on TeenCentral.Net is the proud recipient of the Web Health Award! Placing in Silver, UMF's interfaith Portal provides an opportunity to explore faiths and encourages tolerance of diversity. The Web Health Awards recognizes high-quality digital health resources for consumers and health professionals. UMF is honored to have received such accolades from the Health Information Resource Center, a 20-year old clearing house for professionals who work in consumer health fields.
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UMF Coffee Encounters
January 19th at 3:00 - Panera Bread (Lake Mary, FL)
Join us Sunday, January 19th for the first UMF Coffee Encounters of 2014! We'll discuss UMF HungerTeam, Guides and TeenCentral projects and share ideas with each other on how to make a difference in our world over coffee and treats!
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