Care for Refugees

I am not that big fan of Facebook. However, one of the things that I like about Facebook is the many causes that we can join. I was invited to join Halfdate last year. Having to read briefly on what the organization is about, I clicked on yes, silently promising to contribute something, someday. I receive emails from Halfdate almost on a daily basis. I check out the website, every once in a while but never really have contributed to anything.

Halfdate is a volunteer organization that promotes Sadaqah. The word Sadaqah gives a broader definition in this context because most of the times, they don't ask for money. In some event, they don't even want to accept your money. Halfdate is not focusing on any specific issues. The point of this organization is to help people. So, anyone of the members could come up with a new project and share it with other members. Those active members would discuss the way that they can help and invite the rest of the volunteers to help. The best thing is, it works. It seems the world is still full with good-hearted people. The dark knight would be disappointed. 

I always supported their causes through my prayers but this time I wanted to be a little more active. This is something that I can do. We have a new project. It's called "Care for Refugees".

The drive is focused on helping ten Iraqi families. At the moment, they only have the information on four families (I simply cut and paste from the website):

Family #1 (Iraqi)
Single woman, lives on her own, doesn’t speak English. Wallahy she has been waiting all week for our visit, she hasn’t been here for long and doesn’t know that many ppl. Has no one to talk to, and thats her main problem, she wants to learn English so bad. I suggest some sisters make it a habit to visit her twice a week. Maybe get some dessert or something and just go spend some quality time with her. She will be having surgery in April so won’t be able to work this month until she gets the surgery and recovers. She also needs pocket money during this period until she starts working again. Please visit her, call her on the phone, make her know that she is not forgotten!

Family #2 (Iraqi)
Single woman living with her mom and she is the one that has to pay the bills, her mom is too old to work. She was in dire need of finding a job last week and alhamdulillah she just got one a couple of days ago. She hasn’t been working for a month though and her rent has to be paid before the end of the month!!! She also is planning to move closer to work because she takes 3 buses just to get there from where they live. So we promised to help her move, but rent still has to be paid for this month!!!

Family #3 (Iraqi)
A man in his mid 30s, can’t work because he has a lot of medical problems, needs help paying his electric bill (inshalla is in the process of being taken care of). He doesn’t speak English and therefore is isolated in this big world! We should start making it a habit to visit him every week too. He says he could use some furniture around the house so we need to go visit him and find out how can we help him more.

Family #4 (Iraqi)
The father used to work as a barber in Iraq, he had another job here but got laid off because of the economy. He said he is waiting on his papers to come from Iraq this week so that he can start working his normal job (cutting hair). He is having trouble paying the bills and rent till he starts working again.

Here is the drive target:

1. Collecting $4,977 USD (rent about $750 + educational programs for $500)
2. Getting 70 support comments and dua, click here to post a pleasant word
3. Getting 6 support letters/cards for kids and parents mail them to this address

And, how you can help:

• Grow HalfDate: For every mailing list signup, HalfDate will donate $1 up to $200. Just join the mailing list and post a comment that you are participating in Alamaanah drive
• Blog for a cause: For every blog post about helping refugees/Alamaanah, $5 will be donated up to $250
• A pleasant word! For every comment or Dua about Sadaqah or refugees posted about helping refugees, $1 Canadian Dollar will be donated up to $100.
• Matching Challenge: If 100 people each donates $5, I’ll match their donations ($500) - post in the comment
• Unemployed & Broke Challenge: If an unemployed Muslim donates $20, we’ll double it up to ($500) - post in the comment

Helping can be as easy as clicking and you don't even have to fork out your money (you are most welcomed if you want to, though). I really hope this post can reach someone if not all the readers. Please, please, please, please, please, check out the website and if you feel this is something that you want to do (now or later), please, please, please join the mailing list and help spread the word. This might seem little and we might not be giants but every little thing matters. It's a kid that killed Voldemort and it's a small hobbit that throw the ring into the fire. Why not us?

We have been honored to have been offered this chance to help. So, let's do it!