Islamic Relief USA, a nonprofit humanitarian and advocacy organization, recently awarded a $15,000 grant to Dar-al-Hijrah mosque (3159 Row St., Falls Church) to help provide food to families who weren’t receiving compensation due to the partial shutdown of the federal government.
Food bags were provided to individuals with a federal employee or federal contractor identification card.
Many of the individuals who visited work in mostly low-paying jobs in the cleaning or security services industries.
Many or all of them will not receive back pay. Each bag contains $150 worth of food and other items that are expected to last for one to two months.
Contents included: meat (chicken, beef, or fish), cooking oil rice, beans, flour, sugar, cereal/oats, peanut butter, tuna, pasta, and pasta sauce. Recipients were also given a $25 gift card that will enable them to buy perishable foods, such as milk, eggs, or other culturally traditional items.
“The folks coming in to pick up their bags are blown away by the generosity of what’s included, and filled with gratitude for this lifeline in their moment of need,” said Tahani Jabarin, director of the Social Services Department at Dar-al-Hijrah. “Many who came were not previously familiar with Dar Al-Hijrah, or had ever even been to a mosque for that matter. We were able to share information about our self-sufficiency classes, food bank and other programs, many of which are funded by Islamic Relief USA as well. Several stayed for free wellness checks at our Community Health Day.”
