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Houston

Islamic Relief began helping displaced citizens in Houston as soon as they arrived in the city within days of Hurricane Katrina.

Working with several local organizations, including the Healing Hands Foundation, Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston, the Second Baptist

Church, United Way, the Islamic Society of Greater Houston, and many more, Islamic Relief provided displaced citizens with emergency shelter,

food, educational supplies, and more.

Muslim Help Day – September 11, 2005

Working with the Muslim community in Houston, Islamic Relief provided three hot meals for displaced citizens who had taken shelter at the George

R. Brown Convention Center.

Over 2,000 volunteers from the Houston Muslim community served the displaced citizens for the entire day.

Educational Supplies and Equipment for Displaced Children

Working in partnership with Houston-based organization "House of Charity," Islamic Relief is helping displaced children begin school in their new city by providing them with much-needed educational supplies and equipment.

Hot Meals for Local Shelter

Working in partnership with A.C.T.I.O.N. Community Development, Islamic Relief is provided hot meals for one month for displaced citizens at a Houston-area shelter.

Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston Grant

Islamic Relief has awarded a $30,000 grant to the Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston (IMGH) for its relief work related to Hurricane Katrina. Half of the grant will pay for recovering expenses for hurricane relief efforts carried out through Operation Compassion and the Neighbors2Neighbors program. The other half will go towards the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Response (ODPR).

The $15,000 grant for the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Response will go towards recruiting and training 300 faith communities and congregations to make themselves "disaster resistant" and prepare them to respond to future disasters. IMGH President and CEO Elliot Gershenson said, "That [IMGH] was able to muster the support of over 40,000 volunteers within a five day period [for Katrina relief] is a testimony to the importance of this program."

Dallas

Islamic Relief efforts in helping evacuee victims of Hurricane Katrina in Dallas included the following:

Working closely with local mosques and providing funds for their relief efforts to assist Katrina evacuees and victims. A $30,000 budget has been allocated for this.
Funded new office setup by the Mayor of the city of Irving to provide relief to evacuees in the surrounding area. (Budget: $10,000)
Working on several smaller projects around the area to provide relief for displaced citizens.
U.S. MUSLIMS PLEDGE $10 MILLION FOR HURRICANE RELIEF

Major American Islamic groups form task force to coordinate humanitarian aid

Islamic Relief, along with several major American Islamic groups meeting at the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) convention in Chicago on September 4, announced the formation of a Muslim Hurricane Relief Task Force (MHRTF) to coordinate aid efforts for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The coalition announced a pledge to raise $10 million in humanitarian relief for the victims of the hurricane.

Islamic Relief has already allocated $2 million of the $10 million pledged by MHRTF. Islamic Relief staff is focusing its efforts on helping victims who have fled to Baton Rouge, LA, Houston, TX, and Biloxi, MS.

MHRTF members include (in alphabetical order) Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Islamic Circle of North American (ICNA), Islamic Relief, ISNA, Kind Hearts, Life for Relief and Development, Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA), Muslim American Society (MAS), Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), and Muslim Ummah of North American (MUNA).

"It is a national and Islamic obligation to assist one's neighbors when they are in need," said ISNA Secretary General Sayyid Syeed. "The American Muslim community pledges to do its part in helping those Americans, of all faiths, who suffered such great losses in lives and property."

"Islamic Relief has always strived to help alleviate the suffering of the victims of natural disasters around the world," said Islamic Relief CEO Ahmad El-Bendary. "In the case of Hurricane Katrina, we feel a special responsibility to help fulfill the needs of the victims, stemming from our obligation to help our fellow citizens."

The victims of Hurricane Katrina are in urgent need of your help. Please act now to assist with the emergency relief efforts.