Eighth Annual Tenderloin Iftar

Dear Friends,          

Ramadan Mubarak. Zawaya, a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization, is in the process of organizing its eighth annual Ramadan event for the Muslim families of the Tenderloin district in San Francisco. Invited to this event are the over one hundred and fifty Muslim families from Iraq, Yemen, Palestine, Lebanon,, Iran, Pakistan, India, Bosnia, North Africa, Afghanistan, Sudan, and Egypt living in and around the Tenderloin. The average family has three to five children and lives on welfare in overcrowded apartments.

This event will take place at 6 p.m. on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at the Tenderloin Children’s Playground at 570 Ellis Street (between Leavenworth & Hyde). It will include a seated free iftar of all the traditional dishes. The children will have their own fun-filled corner offering games and prizes. At the end of the evening, we distribute gifts to each child attending as well as a gift to each family.  All food and drinks left over are fully distributed to the families, who always leave with hearts filled with joy and gratitude and arms loaded with gifts.

This celebration has become Zawaya’s most successful and well-supported event. At last year’s iftar, more than 350 people attended, including 190 children/youth. We were blessed to have more than a eighty volunteers helping out. All the families and children immensely enjoyed the gathering, the meal and the gifts. They’re already excitedly inquiring about the coming event. We whole-heartedly attribute that success to your generous donations and tremendous efforts and support.

All of us at Zawaya would like to share with you the unmatched joy of seeing the underprivileged families of the Tenderloin Muslim community gather together in a safe environment dressed in their best, filled with pride and excitement celebrating Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, one of the most important holidays in the Muslim year. These families are part of our broader community, and it is our responsibility to give back and keep our traditions and sense of community alive at all times. We do not want to disappoint those who are counting on us, they deserve a chance to feel cared for, respected and loved. 

Donations needed include the following:

1. Monetary donation for purchasing food, hall rental, and equipment rental.

2. Prepared food items (each for at least twenty people), e.g. hot dishes, desserts, fruit or bread. (Please drop off food at the hall by 5:00 p.m. on September 20.)

3. Monetary donation for cash gifts for the youth (ten- to twenty-year-olds).

4. Gifts and toys for children ages one to ten. (If it is wrapped, kindly specify the age and gender). Also, arrange with Zawaya for delivery by September 14.)

5. Gift certificates from useful stores such as Safeway and Albertsons.

If you are willing to donate any of the items above, please contact one of the following:

Nabila Mango (415) 673-5700 ext # 2018, email: nabila@sbcglobal.net

Suzy Abu-Nie (415) 490-6456, email: suzyqqq@hotmail.com

Rossmia Coo (415) 368-1343, email: miacoo@yahoo.com

Saideh Dadras (650) 464-6092, email: saidehd@yahoo.com

Khulud Morrar (510) 490-3443, email: akmorrar@hotmail.com

For monetary donations, please make checks payable to Zawaya and mail in the enclosed, stamped envelope to: Zawaya 311 – 41^st Avenue San Mateo, CA 94403

Zawaya will be administering the volunteer sign-up for this event via a Yahoo Group dedicated solely to this event. If you plan to volunteer, please send an email requesting membership to zawaya_iftar-subscribe@yahoogroups.com and follow the instruction.

Iftar for volunteers will be available at the event. A kind contribution of $10.00 would be truly appreciated.

Jazakum Allah khayran. May your Ramadan be blessed as you help the needy and make a difference in our community

  

Gratefully,                                                                                                      

Fayeq Oweis, Zawaya President

Duraid Musleh, Zawaya Vice-President                                                                 

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