Day of Dignity 2009: Atlanta

Day of Dignity 2009- D.C. Beneficiary Speaks on Poverty

Staff Member, Melissa Barreto, reflects on her experience at the Day of Dignity 2009 event in Washington D.C.

Looking out the plane window at the city neighborhoods below, I wondered how many men and women were roaming the streets in between with no families to protect them and no place to call home.

Men and women like John, who as he told me his story, cried at the thought of how difficult his life has been. Living back on the streets near Union Station for a second time, John cried i front of me because he felt forced to leave his family, because he had no place to go, and because he felt his spirit was broken.

"Poverty breaks your spirit," he told me.

Working with the CCNV shelter in the Capital Hill area of D.C., I saw over 700 men and women line up to receive supplies that the Day of Dignity volunteers were offering them. Many people were older and looked worn from the days, weeks and probably years of hardships that had come before that day.

If their years passed were anything like John told me that his were, they probably included drug use, broken families and instability as they wandered from one shelter to another with minimal hope for the future.

"There's gotta be another way we can rectify this homeless problem," John said. "It's increasing day by day. People look at you differently because you're on the street, but they have no idea what you might might be going through or what you've been through."

"There's too many people on the streets that don't have nowhere to go, don' know if they're going to eat or if they're going to survive. It's not easy."

As the plane flew higher, I realized that I had left John almost the same way I found him: sitting alone on a curb outside Union Station, a black suitcase containing all his belongings on his right and a paper cup on his left that he used to beg for coins.

The only difference was the black cloth bag at his feet with an Islamic Relief USA logo on the front and towels, socks, gloves, a hat, and hygiene kit inside.

Day of Dignity 2009 - Special Message from Karim Amin

Day of Dignity 2009- Someone to Listen, if Only for One Day

Day of Dignity 2009 National Coordinator, Karim Amin reflects on the D.C. Day of Dignity event.

Under the shadows of the capitol, where laws are passed and all men are created equal, we find the worst inequalities.

Everyone on this day has a story. From the abused woman who had to choose between a home or her life, to the man with his bags packed but no where to go, who just lost his wife. Now the streets are his home.

Life doesn’t always give us roses. But on this day Islamic Relief volunteers gave a something to brighten the day of some of D.C.’s poorest residents. Led by Sayeed Mowlina, dozens of volunteers provided food, clothing, hygiene products, and a smile to people that are homeless and residents of CCNV shelter.

One gentleman I met shared his story with us. He was recently separated from his wife and forced back on the street. The streets were now his home for the second time in his life. Through strained tears he told his story. We provided him with a bag of food, hygiene kits, clothing, and gloves.

He said he needed the help. It brightened his day. Although he appreciated the products, most of all he appreciated someone listening to him, if only for one day.

Day of Dignity 2009: D.C. Volunteers Answer "Why Do You Think This Work is Important?"

Day of Dignity 2009: Philadelphia Beneficiaries

Day of Dignity 2009: Baltimore Volunteers

Day of Dignity 2009- Recap from Baltimore Coordinator, Imam Hassan Amin

Day of Dignity 2009- Baltimore Testimonials

WaPo Mentions 'Day of Dignity'

The Washington Post's website recently mentioned the 'Day of Dignity' and the Obama administration's efforts to focus on interfaith volunteerism.

The article describes the United We Serve campaign, which encourages Americans to help out in their communities in different ways. The 'Day of Dignity' was mentioned as an example.

An excerpt from the article is below:

Muslim-American community organizations are working to help communities, from Atlanta to Baltimore and from Phoenix to Philadelphia, through Muslim Americans Answer the Call. These community groups are offering programs focused on health care, the environment, education, and community renewal in communities across the country.

Volunteer projects such as the Day of Dignity on Aug. 29, sponsored by Islamic Relief USA in Baltimore and 19 other cities, during which Muslim-American volunteers invite volunteers from diverse faith traditions to provide compassionate care to all those in need regardless of color, race or creed.

You can read the entire article here.

The 'Day of Dignity' has already helped hundreds of people in Fort Thompson, Chicago, Baltimore and Philadelphia.

There are still 15 more locations that the 'Day of Dignity' will be visiting.

To read more about the 'Day of Dignity' and for a full listing of events, click here.