US Muslims Live Faith through Helping Needy

TEHRAN (IQNA) - Flocking to attend North America largest Muslim convention, dozens of Muslims took time out from the workshops and plenary sessions at the ISNA 52nd Annual Convention in Chicago to package meals for needy people.

“I wanted to come out this morning to help,” Halid Skenderi, a teenage volunteer told OnIslam.net.

“It is important that we feed the poor and those who have less than us.”

Joining with the American charity Stop Hunger Now volunteers of all ages gathered in the convention prayer hall early Sunday morning to take part in the “Live Your Faith Through Service to Others” service activity.

Stop the Hunger Now, which was founded in 1998, has provided over 180 million meals in 65 countries.

A delegation from Nigeria representing the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of Jama’atu Nasril Islam are attending the convention and came out to observe the food packaging as well as participate in the activity.

"My experience here at the ISNA convention has demystified my notions of Muslims in America,” Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, Secretary General of Jama’atu Nasril Islam told OnIslam.net.

“I am impressed by the progress and development of the American Muslim community - in their scholarship, Da`wah, development of Islamic Centers and social activism.”

“The ISNA convention has been a wonderful experience for us,” he added.

“It has brought Muslims from America and the world together at a time when the Ummah is going through many trials.”

This year, Stop the Hunger Now will package 45 million meals, and ship over $9 million in donated aid, mainly vitamins and medical supplies.

Stop the Hunger Now meal-packaging programs operate at 19 cities in the US and in South Africa, Malaysia, India, Italy and the Philippines.

According to the organization, “in just under two hours, a group of 30 to 40 volunteers can package 10,000 nutrient-rich meals for the undernourished globally.”

Throughout the convention, attendees were also encouraged to register with the bone marrow registry and donate to a blood drive.

ISNA is the largest Muslim umbrella organization in North America.

ISNA's four-day annual convention which concludes on Monday dates back to 1963, when the first such event was organized by the predecessor to ISNA, the Muslim Students Association of the United States and Canada.

Over the years, the convention has increased in popularity and consistently draws crowds of up to 40,000 Muslims in attendance each year.