Mosque Foundation Food Pantry Celebrates 10th Anniversary
This March, the Mosque Foundation Community Food Pantry celebrated its two year anniversary of service since its initial grand opening in March 2005. Located at 7210 W. 90th Place in Bridgeview, the MF Community Food Pantry serves up to 150 needy families per week by distributing free food and household items every Monday from 10 am - 1 pm. The Food Pantry is staffed by a dedicated group of volunteers who selflessly devote their time to serve Allah by serving others.
"If the Mosque Foundation was a sky, this Food Pantry would definitely be one of its brightest stars", says Connie Al-Ramahi, one of the Food Pantry coordinators, "we clearly see the benefit it has brought to this community, as well as the positive perception of Muslims it has brought to our non-Muslim clients. It is totally worth every minute of hard work we invest in it. Over half, if not more of our clients are non-Muslim, and many of these people are in dire need. I am reminded of something one of our clients said to me that I will never forget. He is an older gentleman who lives in the mobile home park in Bridgeview. We had received a large donation of Arabic food products from a distributor one month and the packages for distribution were full of Arabic food, so before I gave the man his food package I told him that I would substitute the Arabic products in his package for items he's more familiar with. He looked at me with tears in his eyes, and said 'Ma'am, when you're hungry you'll eat just about anything. I appreciate anything you give me so don't feel like you have to do anything special for me.' That really put everything in perspective for me about the obligation we have toward people. Maybe whatever they might have thought about Muslims before they stepped into the Food Pantry is changed when they step out. I hope that they see the true kindness and generosity of Islam when they see all these ladies wearing hijab eager to help them. This is the highest form of dawah."
Food donations and financial support are greatly appreciated. Volunteer and community service opportunities are |