A Couple Ways to Help Make a Difference

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

~Margaret Mead

"They will ask you what they should give away. Say: 'Whatever is surplus to your needs.'" (Qur'an, 2:219)

A lot of people want to help others, but sometimes are not sure how to do so. There are many ways to help and sometimes the littlest thing will do more than a person can realize.

The American Islamic Fellowship will post community service opportunities. These may be things a person can do in person or online, using personal resources, technology, or one's own hands, doing things by oneself or with a group, or a variety of things. The opportunities may be local, national or international efforts. Each effort, however, will be something that will make a difference if even just one person tries.

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In Atlanta:

Alif Institute and the American Friends Service Committee are asking for your help at a donation drive to benefit 600 Iraqi families that are settling in Atlanta.

The following items are needed:

School supplies (book bags, notebooks, folders/binders, markers, crayons, pencils and erasers)

Personal care items (band-aids, shampoo, deodorant, personal hygiene products, toothbrushes, toothp aste, feminine personal care items, towels, wipes, etc.)

Furniture such as coffee tables, small desks, chairs Silverware, cups, plates, bowls, platters, large pots, pans

Gift cards for groceries: Kroger, Publix, Farmer's Market, etc

You may deliver your donations to Alif Institute at 3282 Marjan Drive, Atlanta GA 30340, on the following days and times:

1:00 to 3:00 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays

12:00 noon to 4:00 pm on Tuesdays & Thursdays

10:00 am to 2:00 pm on Saturdays

Volunteers are needed for translation and for companionship

To volunteer, please contact Britta Froelicher, Middle East Peace Education Program, AFSC

bfroelicher@afsc.org / Work: 404-586-0460x15 / Cell: 404-556-0759

Alif Institute is an American education, culture, arts, and enrichment center with a focus on the Arab culture and Arab Americans. It is established by Arab-American Fund of Georgia, Inc., a nonprofit, 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt educational organization. Contributions and Annual Memberships are fully tax deductible.

Alif Institute mailing address: PO Box 29067, Atlanta, GA 30359.
Institute address: 3288 Marjan Drive, Atlanta, GA 30340.

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Internationally:









http://www.inmyname.com/

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Kelly
American Islamic Fellowship
blog@americanislamicfellowship.com

Doing Something

The post I link to is especially poignant in light of ugly anti-Jewish statements made by a Muslim I was arguing with the other day at a local mosque. (This person was saying that "the Jews" all got together and planned and pulled off 9/11) People like myself get a lot of ugly emails from conspiratorial Muslims who do not like us speaking out in this manner. Please support Umm Zaid's brave stance...Believe me it IS brave as these maniacs have said the most terrible things about me on their websites and in emails to me.

http://tariqnelson.com/2008/09/12/doing-something/


-- Tariq Nelson
http://tariqnelson.com

Big Dreams

But Mousie, thou are no thy-lane,
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men,
Gang aft agley,
An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,
For promis'd joy!

~Robert Burns, 'To a Mouse'

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My days of fasting during Ramadan haven't been too bad so far because work has been keeping me busy. I come home with a couple hours until it's time to eat and either take a nap if I'm tired or go ahead and prepare food. I've been doing pretty well. Well, until about the last 15 minutes.

That's when my hunger takes completely over and I go into fantasy mode. I start thinking about all the food and drinks I'm going to partake of the minute my fast is finished. Sometimes I'll go as far as to open each cabinet and the fridge to scope out the things I can have once I am ready to go. I don't know what possess me to do this, but I'm in full plan mode and have a method to what I think I can eat.

It's a weird switch and I wonder if other people who are hungry and can't eat do this? It's kind of like when I was a kid and I went through the Christmas wish list book for a department store and picked all the toys I was going to get not thinking about the price.

Of course, when the time to break my fast, I do end up eating only what I have prepared and that fills me just fine.

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"Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may learn self-restraint. "

Quran 2:183

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Kelly
American Islamic Fellowship
blog@americanislamicfellowship.com