Sunday, April 19, 2020 at 1:00pm – 2:30pm
Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/122097156
Dial by location: 16699009128 (San Jose)
Since Washington Governor Inslee declared a state of emergency and announced the stay-at-home order 5 weeks ago, MAPS has made rapid changes to adapt to the new uncertain circumstances while providing the community with much needed services. You can visit COVID section of our website for these changes as well as our weekly updates for our efforts! I would like to extend a personal invitation to a briefing on our efforts on April 19th at 1:00PM and what we need to do to raise to the occasion.
Here are a few examples of actions that we have done this past month.
- MAPS was the first mosque in the USA to make the difficult decision to cancel the Friday khutbah, safeguarding the health of our Musallihs’ (congregants)
- MAPS has so far assisted over 200 families and have provided over $90K for immediate and much needed assistance to both Muslim and non-Muslim residents of the Greater Seattle area. We have a goal of is $1.5M to deliver services to the needy, half of which will come from your generosity while we expect the rest to come from grants.
- MAPS has been performing wellness checks, grocery delivery to elders (60 years and older) and single women without mobility.
- MAPS has been started providing boxed lunches starting the week of April 6th from local restaurants to any one needing food from our MAPS MCRC office in Redmond Downtown. We will continue this for the next several weeks.
- MAPS has delivered over 5,000 masks and medical supplies to local public health agencies and local hospitals.
- MAPS has contracted a third-party funeral home to conduct ghusl (washing), last rights and burial of our diseased in a respectful and Islamic manner while abiding by state regulations of these times
- MAPS has transitioned its classes, lectures and weekly khutbah’s (sermons) online; we have had a national guest speaker addressing our community every Friday since we closed the masjid
- MAPS has not fired any of its staff despite closing doors for over a month now; and, we have suspended collection of rent from our tenants
- Our Humanitarian and Financial services have been done with 6 case workers and numerous volunteers who have been educated to perform these duties using Covid19 safe procedures.
Now, as we approach the holy month of Ramadan and prepare for the first time in our lives to observe the blessed month away from the masjid, I know that the absence of the masjid will further amplify its importance, its central role and its love in our hearts.
In the midst of the pandemic, we face a practical challenge: how do we continue to offer assistance to the needy in the community in this time of crisis while the masjid remains closed without any attendance which has significantly reduced our donations. In the same vein, we have had to add staff hours to handle the increased demand for assistance and the associated expenses. In addition to COVID-19 related expenses, we also have to continue to pay for operations. Our primary means of getting donations is our annual fundraiser which had to be cancelled and we face uncertain community donation during Ramadan.
In light of these challenges, I am personally requesting your presence to attend an online forum of a small-group of MAPS supporters to learn about what it will take to keep our masjid not only functioning without interruptions but also rising to meet the challenges. With your support and assistance, our masjid will continue its role as the bedrock of our community. It is in these darkest moments that we shine as a community and demonstrate what our faith teaches us. Having strong local institutions serve to strengthen our community and our belonging so that our children can grow up in a society free of hate.
RSVP Now
Wasalam,
Hyder Ali