Saturday, September 13, 2008
Kalamazoo Gazette
 http://www.mlive.com/news/kzgazette/index.ssf?/base/news-30/122127960613700.xml&coll=7
Gazette Staff Reports

KALAMAZOO -- A Muslim relief organization hopes to reach out to 700 homeless and needy people in the Kalamazoo area with food and clothing today during its annual Day of Dignity.

The event, being held in Kalamazoo for the second year, will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park, 507 N. Rose St.

Islamic Reliefs Day of Dignity food and clothing distribution will coincide with Muslims obligatory Ramadan fasting. Local Muslims helping to organize and volunteer at the event will be fasting during the day as they help those who are struggling to have their basic needs met.

Volunteers from Bilal Islamic Center, the Kalamazoo Islamic Center and the Muslim student associations of Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo College will help Islamic Relief provide food, clothing, medical care, childrens toys, shelter items and social services.

Kalamazoo is one of 18 cities, including Detroit and Chicago, that will benefit from Islamic Reliefs Day of Dignity distributions, which are expected to serve 25,000 people altogether during September.

In the tradition of service during Ramadan, we reach out to Americans in need,' said Mostafa Mahboob, of Islamic Relief. "We recognize that, while we are breaking fast with our families and friends each night during the month of Ramadan, too many people across the country cannot count on even one hot meal every day."

Islamic Relief USA, based in Buena Park, Calif., is a nonprofit humanitarian organization incorporated in 1993.