American Muslims help Baltimore community to dispel myths about Islam

Monday 25 May 2015 - 13:24 Makkah mean time-7-8-1436

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Baltimore, Maryland US (IINA) - When American Muslim Malika MacDonald watched from afar the devastation caused by unrest in Baltimore's long-struggling neighborhoods, the Boston-based worker with Muslim charity Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA Relief USA) felt compelled to help, The Baltimore Sun reported.
Staff and volunteers with the group, which helps disaster victims, came to the city earlier this month and distributed food and hygiene goods to elderly residents living on riot-torn blocks.
On Saturday, MacDonald returned to the city, for the annual convention of the, (ICNA) as an attendee and speaker, but also to continue the charity's work in the city.
The annual convention's theme this year to dispel growing misperceptions about Islam and the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) dovetailed with her own work with one of the nation's largest domestic charities, MacDonald said.
"I don't feel comfortable in my life when I know others are suffering," MacDonald said, as she bustled around a convention center room stacked with more food and supplies that were to be distributed Sunday to Baltimore's homeless.
Volunteers from the 20,000-attendee convention handed out about 400 "blessing bags" with dental kits, juice, oranges, water, cereal bars, soup, and food donated by Whole Foods around Madison Street and the Fallsway.
The relief group, a division of ICNA, worked on the initiative in conjunction with the Muslim Social Services Agency of Baltimore, or MSSA, a social services organization that focuses on urban areas.
"We do this because we are Muslim," said Karim Amin, MSSA's president. "I'm hoping doing these services will dispel myths."
Dispelling myths about Islam became a central theme of Queens, N.Y., based ICNA's conference this weekend at the Baltimore Convention Center, said Naeem Baig, president of ICNA. The convention runs through Monday.
The ICNA convention, open to the public and people of all faiths, aims to offer experts' views on economics, finance, social work, child psychology, law and education and includes workshops and sessions on family issues.
SM/IINA
 

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