Hundreds of people attended on Saturday the inaugural Day of Dignity event hosted by a group of New York Muslim women, getting free food, haircuts, school essentials, and medical services.
“This is definitely a priority that we are here to help out and serve the community in the best way that we can,” Safiyyah Abdul-Qawiyy, founder and CEO of Muslim Sisters of Staten Island’s (MSSI), told the Advance/SILive.com.
Held at the difficult time of COVID-19, Abdul-Qawiyy said that Day of Dignity embodies the organization’s motto: “The community is our priority.”
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“I am grateful for the weather and I am grateful for the fact that people did come out despite worrying about the weather,” she said.
“The community is something that we strive to continue to serve and we continue to grow in Staten Island, working with all our partners.”
Hosting the event on Saturday, volunteers from MSSI offered various services and resources to the local community including free school supplies, clothing, groceries, baby essentials, hair cuts, health insurance information, and more.
Through the afternoon, nearly 300 people stopped by the event in St. George, which MSSI hosted in partnership with Islamic Relief of USA.
Two Decades of Helping People
Created in 2002 by Islamic Relief USA, the Day of Dignity creates an opportunity for caring individuals from diverse communities to provide services to their neighbors in need.
Food, clothing, blankets, and hygiene kits are just some of the items distributed during Day of Dignity events.
“Islamic Relief USA has held the Day of Dignity event for several years,” said Sharif Aly, IRUSA’s chief executive officer of Islamic Relief USA, in a statement on IRUSA website.
“The events enable people who are in some of the most difficult and stressful circumstances to get access to necessary items and services. Poverty and homelessness, unfortunately, remain major problems. The present coronavirus pandemic has only exacerbated those problems, leading to greater inequality and inequity.”
This year’s events come at a difficult time for many as the coronavirus has changed our lives in many ways, especially for those living in poverty.
According to the US Census Bureau, approximately 37.2 million Americans currently live in poverty.
In partnership with Islamic Relief, Islamic groups across 17 cities nationwide will be hosting Day of Dignity events to help the needy.