I want to start volunteering somewhere, but I don't know what is acceptable. I have been reading that you should give to Islamic charities, so I emailed the Islamic Society here and got an email back that says the only volunteer opt is to come help out with community iftar. That's great, but I'm looking to help kids or families, etc. I cannot for the life of me find Islamic opts here, so I'm wondering if helping christian kids is just as rewarding in the eyes of Allah as helping fellow Muslims. I can volunteer-- I am in absolutely no financial position right now :( to be able to give money or I would give to our Islamic school or clinic- they want f/t volunteers though so that's out cuz I work f/t.
Throughout jr high, high school & right after, I use to volunteer like crazy. I did earth restoration, helped at-risk youth, Ronald McDonald Foundation, was Miss Jr Davis County & Miss Jr North Salt Lake, volunteered at local shelters, International Club, Jr Rotary Club, Utah Youth Federation, Peace Trees International, Job's Daughters, Red Ribbon campaign, you name it I did it. The problem now is that most of these things are forbidden (pagaents & "Jobies"), deal with christian charities, are out of business, or require more committment than I can give. I can't sew, not very good at cooking, and I'm not crafty. I would LOVE to work with kids. I would LOVE to quit my job and stay home with my son and also be a foster parent. But that's not doable right now. I'm just looking for ideas.
Before I was married I volunteered at an Islamic school, mostly with fundraising. However, you can see if there are any tutoring opportunities or chaperoning that they need help with. I also volunteered with CAIR (COuncil of American-Islamic Relations) and we were always doing community projects like neighborhood clean-up, feeding the poor and putting events together. They are a reputable civil rights organization. They may have a chapter near you!
Quoting ummu_moussa:
Before I was married I volunteered at an Islamic school, mostly with fundraising. However, you can see if there are any tutoring opportunities or chaperoning that they need help with. I also volunteered with CAIR (COuncil of American-Islamic Relations) and we were always doing community projects like neighborhood clean-up, feeding the poor and putting events together. They are a reputable civil rights organization. They may have a chapter near you!
I called the school here and they said they are looking for daytime volunteers. I work m-f 8-4:30 so that won't work. Same with the clinic- f/t daytime opts. CAIR doesn't have a chapter in Utah-- I'm wouldn't know where or how to start one and really I don't think I have enough time to commit to heading a chapter. Thanks for the ideas though. Anymore ??
Group Owner
assalamu alaikum sister,
Charities (volunteer work as well) can be given to non Muslims. but if there are Muslims in need then naturally they take precedent.
but as a Muslim doing charity work and volunteering at NON Muslim organizations is a form of Da'wah ( spreading the good image of Islam to others) so if all fails. dont' despair, you can still help other children or people even if they are not Muslim
some ideas?
look for some elderly people in your Muslim community. visit them . buy some groceries for them . you can help them with some chores if they are not able to.
see if your mosque needs cleaning, you can clean it on your day off, see if it needs supplies, you can provide cleaning supplies, or even snacks for the children of Sunday School.
volunteer to buy Sunday school supplies, if you cannot volunteer to teach. .. photocopy papers, trophies,
you can help organize Eid. come up with ideas for the children. set up a charity box for the kids at the mosque so they can donate and send the money to needy children somewhere else..
take some other Muslims to a soup kitchen. or a nursing home, or an orphanage, even the children's hospitals. have them give little gifts on Eid to others so they can understand what charity is, and that there is more to life than just taking stuff.
you can cook some meals for Muslim students at the university who have no family, or who miss home cooked meals .
look for those that are sick in your community. go and visit them. take some other ladies and go visit them . you can make up a committee that cater for this charity. because not only is visiting the sick a charity. it is an obligation. a right of a Muslim upon anther Muslim
this is all I can think of right now. have to go now and prepare for the iftar and do some Quran reading. I am a bit behind and too ashamed to post in the khitmah post. LOL
masha' Allah. such wonderful sentiment sister. may Allah aid you and guide you and help you with this endeavor. keep us posted, insha' Allah other sisters will have better ideas.
I love you in the love of Allah and leave you in his trusted care.
Love and salaam (peace)
(proud2bmom3: Muslim Moms-- Owner.
Assaalamu Alaikum Brandi!
Utah can be quite challenging on finding stuff to do in the Islamic Community. Either every position is filled or they don't have anything organized. I have many times come to this conclusion. Best thing to do...if you want to reach a broad muslim community....see if you can attend Jummah at the Khadijah Masjid in WVC...after the prayer as some of the ladies if they are going to start a project, in the middle of one...or ask if there is something/someone in need of assistance.
I would ask either as soon as you show up or as soon as Jummah prayer is over (if you ask about 10 minutes before usually they are praying so it's hard to ask in the in between time)...there are 3 pakistani women basically in charge of the women's section. There is also a very nice indonesian lady as well that is known in the community there.
There is at least once a year a masjidwide garage sale and they usually need volunteers to help out. I know during Ramadan they always have ifftar at the masjid...so you can ask if you can help feed the people.
What I have done up here in Ogden is crochet blankets and donate them to the hospital for the NICU. I cook a week of meals for all the newcomers to the Ogden area, since I'm a SAHM (I know your not...but still see if someone needs help on the weekend) is offer to babysit for a couple of weeks so they can get settled and find jobs. The main thing I do is crochet blankets (I learned how a couple of years ago...it's really really easy to learn) and send them in a package once a month to my INLAWS in Bangladesh....as well as color books (mainly educational ones), crayons, construction paper, photopaper, fingerpaint kits...ect. All I buy at the dollar store and I don't spend more than $50 a month (when our budget allows) see if you can do something like that...or be a penpal to children...so you can better your arabic and they can better their english...I do that with my nieces... my bengali is getting better as well as their english. just some options..since in utah we are kind of limited.
InshaAllah you will find something :)
Prayers for the people of Syria... and the martyrs of Houle
- brandie05
on Sep. 11, 2008 at 4:12 PM