MUSLIMS, ALLIES COMING TOGETHER IN RAMADAN TO SUPPORT REGION’S UNHOUSED PEOPLE
Food & Care Package Assembly will take place in Santa Ana.
(Los Angeles, CA – 4/28/21) — On Saturday, May 1, Muslims in Los Angeles and Orange County will join forces to feed hundreds of unhoused people across the region in honor of Ramadan. The 22nd Annual HUMANITARIAN DAY event has pivoted to gather volunteers to create care packages and meals while abiding to pandemic safety precautions, thanks to the support of community groups, including the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation, UMMA Community Clinic, and Orange County Islamic Foundation.
“We feel blessed to be able to be able to come together in service of our unhoused brothers and sisters after having to cancel Humanitarian Day last year and carrying the disappointment of not being able to support those who need it most,” says Umar Hakim Day, who is the Executive Director of I.L.M. (Intellect-Love-Mercy) Foundation. “It is an obligation for Muslims to encourage good works and provide for neighborly needs, and we are proud to have served the community for more than 20 years.”
WHAT: Humanitarian Day Action
WHEN: Saturday, May 1, 2021 at 9:00 AM | 10 AM Volunteer Orientation | Assembly 11AM-2PM
WHERE: Islamic Center of Santa Ana – 1610 East First Street, Santa Ana, CA 92701
VISUALS: Muslims and interfaith volunteers will gather under CDC guidelines, to assemble gift bags that will be delivered directly to those suffering homelessness in target areas.
Humanitarian Day founded by the I.L.M. (Intellect-Love-Mercy) Foundation over 20 years ago, in the Holy Month of Ramadan. We have served more than 20 years, over 60,000 people to date. During this month, Muslims are fasting during daylight hours from food and water. These may feel like a basic right but for many more homeless, they go without consistent access to water and food on a daily basis. This event helps to provide some relief and dignity to the unsheltered.
The I.L.M. Foundation works with sponsors, community partners and volunteers to convert charity into awareness, advocacy, and action for homelessness in California. Humanitarian Day is an action to generate even more awareness for a relevant solution that heals across Californian communities.
The January 2020 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count showed more than 66,000 people in Los Angeles County experiencing homelessness, which represents a 12.7% rise in the County from the year before. The City of Los Angeles saw a 16.1% rise to more than 41,000 in the same time period, which represents the most recent data available. Meanwhile, Mayor Eric Garcetti recently announced his budget for the next fiscal year in which he vowed to dedicate $1 billion toward homelessness. In 2020 alone, 1,383 homeless people died, and an estimated five more die each day, according to data from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA).
The pandemic “Stay-at-Home” orders interrupted Humanitarian Day in 2020, which was scheduled to include a charitable health fair that provides on-site health care by UMMA Community Clinic and dental care for children. This year, the event will not include health care services due to safety guidelines. Target areas for distribution following the assembly: Santa Ana City Net Bus station shelter, Downtown Los Angeles Skid Row, San Bernardino County, Pasadena; as well as meal delivery in Oakland.
We are grateful for our 19 Sponsors: Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation, UMMA Community Clinic, Orange County Islamic Foundation, Islamic Center of Santa Ana, Sabil USA, Hearts of Mercy, Sahaba Initiative, Shia Muslim Council, Islah LA, LA Voice, NewGround: A Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change, INKERIJ, Harmony Bites, Eating Rights, Halal Project, LifeKit, Muslim Public Affairs Council, Muslim Bar Association, CAIR-LA.
# # #BeEssential
ILM Foundation’s mission is to teach life skills to economically underprivileged youth and adults so that social ills are replaced with opportunities for intellectual and economic empowerment. www.humanitarianday.org
CONTACT: Umar Hakim Dey | 310-346-4105
www.humanitarianday.com | hd@ilmercy.com
