We would like to thank everyone who donated food, zakat or sadaqa and toys for our toy drive for families that we serve through our mobile food pantry. Alhamdullilah, many families were assisted throughout the entire month of Ramadan with food packages, iftar meals and zakat or sadaqa donations. All were extremely grateful.

From time to time we get the permission from families that we serve to share their appreciation for the generosity of others who are devoted to assisting their Muslim brothers and sisters in need of our assistance. Below is a gratitude letter from a sister that we want to share with everyone so that you know your donations are never unappreciated and most needed by so many of our families. In fact, we have families that depend on these donations to help them with their bills, rent and food.

A gratitude letter from a sister (name removed to respect her confidentiality):

June 28, 2016

As Salaamu Alaikum Dr. Salima Hunafa:

I cannot thank Allah Ta Ala enough for the assistance that you and your program have rendered to me and others who have benefitted from your donations to us especially during this blessed month of Ramadhan.  With the Pantry’s help, I and many others are now able to see the magnificent of Allah’s Glory unfold by having a very grateful Ramadhan.  It is easier to fast with proper nourishment. JazakaAllah Khair.

Dr. Hunafa, I heard about the incredible work that you and your donors are doing for the community from another benefactor of your help and then yet another.  Please do not underestimate the importance of your service and your donations.  We are living in difficult times and need help.  I took the chance to make my situation known to you and was helped.  Ironically, I am one of the first ladies to convert to Islam in the earlier 1970s and help establish Atlanta’s first Masjid. Just knowing that this same community flourish to assist others is refreshing.

I gratefully acknowledge receipt of your donations. This help came to me during one of my darkest and difficult times in my life.  Until recently, I was homeless and without proper funds to survive.   Although this may sound like a typical story of a struggling person but it should not be for a 66 years old African-American Muslim Lady. After a horrific tragedy in my life I am now recovering and restructuring my life.  I am now enrolled in a Doctoral Program in Atlanta with plans to gain an Ed.D.

I wish to thank Allah for all the donors that keep the doors of Madinah Pantry open to help others like myself gain assistance in the time of need.    From the donations of the Madinah, we were able to sponsor over ten Iftars for families this Ramadhan. I thank you all again for your unselfish help to others in need. Caring for others is a valuable attribute.  Again thank you Dr. Hunafa, your wonderful family and your donors for the grace of your service to communities and people in need.  You saw the need and took action.  Again, JazakaAllah Khair for your services, kindness and actions.

Zakat ul fitr donations from Masjid Al-Athar (Marietta)

Hunger remains as one of our greatest social problems (if not the greatest social problem) globally. In the United States, it is hard for some of us to fathom that there are people who are hungry or food insecure on a daily basis. Through our mobile food pantry services at Madinah Food Pantry we see firsthand the situations many families are in currently in which they must struggle each month to get food to survive since we started our mobile food pantry service in the spring of 2011. Many of the families we serve no longer receive food stamps, or if they receive so little food stamps (sometimes as little as $30 per month) that they must have food packages delivered monthly just to sustain themselves. Many of our local seniors, disabled and widows are expected to live on these very meager amounts of food stamps each month. Our single parent families have also seen reductions in what they receive through food stamps as well and are in need of food items to feed their families (many have large families). This situation is NOT getting any better but worse. We are seeing dramatic increases in elders needing food, homelessness among Muslim families (especially senior sisters and single parent families) and refugees in our area needing food.

 We encourage all who can to sponsor Madinah Food Pantry on a monthly basis, In sha’ Allah. You can sponsor for $25, $50, $75, $100, $200 $300, $400 or $500 per month ($100 per month is $25 per week and $500 per month is $125 per week). Monthly donations can be set up through PayPal on our website at www.madinahfoodpantry.org or through direct deposit for the Madinah Food Pantry bank account through Bank of America. With these much-needed funds it will help tremendously with the following:

 Purchase of food items needed (these are mostly food items we don’t receive from donations which many families need such as fresh produce, milk, eggs, foods for families on restrictive diets—no salt, no sugar foods and foods for those with allergies;

Crisis situations when different families we serve need assistance due to homelessness, disconnection of bills, death in the family, hospitalizations, etc.…;

Gas funds for our travel expenses to make deliveries (we travel up to 75 miles from our location in Lawrenceville) to deliver food packages each month so our expenses are much greater most pantries since we are a mobile food pantry.

 Below is a testimonial from a single disabled sister with 4 teenage children that we have worked with for the past 4 years through our mobile food pantry service to assure you that your donations are indeed making a difference in the lives of others: