“There are approximately 40 million uprooted people around the world- refugees who have sought safety in another country, and people displaced within their own country. 75-80% of them are women and children.”

The UMMA Center's Fifth Annual Ramadan Adopt a Refugee Family Initiative is quickly approaching!

Last year, the initiative was a huge success - we helped more than 120 Chicago-land refugee families settle into their new homes. With the growing number of Muslim Refugees coming to Chicago, the UMMA Center recognizes the need to continue this important work!

The mission of the project is to connect one Muslim American Family with at least one Muslim Refugee Family by providing basic essential household items, schools supplies, toys for the children, and also sharing a meal. By allowing this connection we encourage awareness of the Refugee crisis in Chicago and present an opportunity to give during the month of Ramadan. 

We also invite all volunteers/donors to join us for an Iftaar with the refugee families during the gift drop-off day. By sharing a meal during this important season, we promote more personal contact between the volunteers/donors and the refugee community as well as draw real connections with our Refugee neighbors.

All of the refugees are newly arrived within the past year, and include Palestinian and Iraqi families.

The Iftaar will be held on Sunday August 22nd 2010

Date: Sunday, August 22nd 2010
Drop off time: 6:00pm, Maghrib, and then iftaar.
Location: Zam Zam Banquet Hall (2759 North Oak Park Avenue Chicago, IL 60707 | Map)

**Baskets should be dropped off at the Uhaul truck located in the banquet hall parking. Additional parking for attendees is available across the street from the hall at the local public school**

3 Ways you can participate:

Donate Money towards a basket online:

All checks can be mailed to:

UMMA Center
221 Washington St.
Waukegan, IL 60085

All donors are invited to join us in the iftaar and meet the refugee families on Aug. 22nd! Please join us!

*Please note we highly encourage the putting together of baskets with essential items versus donating a gift card as it can be very difficult for refugee families to purchase some of these items on their own. Many times these families travel using public transportation or deal with language barriers and it would lighten their load if we directly provided the families with these items.

This event is made possible by the support of following organizations:

MWA - Muslim Women's Alliance
http://muslimwomensalliance.org/
The mission of Muslim Women's Alliance (MWA) is to build a strong alliance between women from diverse backgrounds so that they may implement the values of Islam by promoting community service, philanthropy and helping women achieve personal development.

CAMP Chicago  - Council for the Advancement of Muslim Professionals-Chicago
http://www.camp-online.org
The Council for the Advancement of Muslim Professionals (CAMP) is a professional networking organization dedicated to serving the needs of the Muslim community.

DIC - Downtown Islamic Center
http://www.dic-chicago.org
An Islamic center that holds daily prayers, as well as community outreach programs, library services, and da'wah for Muslims and non Muslims

ISNS Rolling Meadows - Islamic Society of Northern Suburbs
http://www.isns.org/
An Islamic center that provides daily prayer services, sunday school, computer classes, adult education programs, and other community outreach programs.

IFN Libertyville - Islamic Foundation North Libertyville
http://ifnonline.com/
IFN Offers a wide spectrum of services to the Muslim community of northern suburbs and southeast Wisconsin, including religious, social, and cultural services.