DETROIT – With Ramadan less than two weeks away, volunteers gathered Saturday at the Islamic Center of Detroit to pack more than 1,600 food boxes for families in need across three states.
The annual food distribution effort, organized by Islamic Relief USA for the past 15 years, aims to provide enough food to sustain families throughout the holy month when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset.
“These are shelf staples -- rice, two types of lentils, sugar, salt, and dates of course,” said Kesha Abdul-Mateen, US Program Manager for Islamic Relief USA.
The boxes, containing enough food to feed a family of five for a month, will be distributed to communities across Metro Detroit, Indiana, and Ohio.
Volunteers of all ages worked together to assemble the packages.
For many participants, the event embodied the core values of Ramadan, a month centered around personal sacrifice, charity, reflection, and love.
For parents like Fawziyyah Umrani, the event offered an opportunity to instill valuable lessons in their children about community service.
“It feels good so they can help others,” she said.