ALBANY – Albany county is teaming up with a Muslim center to collect food for the needy, in an effort that will extend through April.

“It’s called the Muslim Food Pantry, but it doesn’t just focus Muslims,” Humera Khan, Volunteer at the Muslim Food Pantry, told News 10 on Tuesday, April 4.

“It’s out for everybody.  Anybody can come pick up food from here, and that’s our aim, and hunger has no bias. It’s open to everybody,” she added.

Seeking to help the needy, Albany County and the Islamic Center of the Capital District are teaming up this month to help families who are struggling to put food on their tables

The initiative was welcomed by Albany County Executive Dan McCoy, who urged people to participate.

“We have bins that are going to be sent around, so people can put non-perishable foods out that we can get here for the families,” McCoy said.

“We need large donations because again, we have 65 families who come here to receive food, and at the end of the day, we want to help more people,” he added.

The program goes from April 4 through April 30th.

The notion of giving, especially giving and helping those in need, is so entrenched in Islam.

The personal sacrifice of giving one’s possessions, no matter how small, for the sake of helping those in need is a blessing and means purifying our souls and wealth.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Protect yourself from hell-fire even by giving a piece of date as charity.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)