Last week ICNA Relief USA provided immediate response to tornadoes touching down around the Birmingham, AL area. We provided tarps to cover damaged roofs and to protect against expected rains. We continue to assist the residents of that area in both the response and recovery phase. As we continue to provide disaster related case management to those trying to rebuild from last Spring’s tornadoes.

Yesterday, on Monday, January 30, 2012, representatives and volunteers from Birmingham Islamic Society (BIS) and ICNA Relief USA followed up on local requests and delivered a truck load of supplies (wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes, masks and gloves, mailboxes, plastic storage tubs, etc.) to North Park Baptist Church in Trussville, AL.  This local church is operating as a POD (Point of Distribution) where impacted neighbors can go to pick up much needed supplies, while they are recovering from last week's tornadoes.

The local Muslim community, led by Br. Ashfaq Taufique, the president of BIS, donated over $2,000 towards the purchase of these supplies.

Help End the Refugee Crisis in America

Imagine it’s the middle of winter and you arrive in the United States with just the clothes on your back. You come from a country where you have never seen snow, only to be resettled in the North East. You are placed in a dingy apartment with only a few mattresses on the floor and a couple of blankets. This scenario is all too familiar to the many families brought to the United States as refugees.

An Iraqi family arrived in the middle of the winter, a husband and wife with two small children, who were placed in a unit which did not have a refrigerator. Fortunately as it was cold, they were able to store their food outside their back door. Unfortunately, they were only given one mattress on the floor and a few blankets to share.