As’salaam alaikum (peace be upon you):
Here is a summary of our MAPS COVID-19 Response for the week of March 23, 2020. For background, please check out our initial COVID-19 Response announcement on March 15 here , and our community update for the week of March 16-22 here .
Human and Financial Services:
- There was a 4x increase in the number of requests for assistance from 53 to 215 in just the past week. 55% of these requests have been fulfilled, while others are in the process of getting assistance
- As we approach the end of the month, the vast majority of the requests are for rent and utility assistance. But the number of families who received food assistance also increased 3x from last week.
- The profile of people applying for assistance changed from gig economy and hourly workers to full-time employees who have been laid off from work.
- Our amazing volunteers also delivered food, medicine and other needed supplies for 6 families across Puget Sound who were in self quarantine or did not have the physical means to go to a pharmacy or grocery store.
- Because of the dramatic increase in requests, we have increased the number of case workers, whose work is supported by a team of volunteers. This way, we have maintained our 24-hour turnaround on all incoming requests, so that we are responsive to the emergency needs of community members.
- We continue to provide wellness checks on community seniors and single women in our transitional homes.
- The financial assistance we provided last week more than doubled the amount we provided in our first week of COVID-19 assistance. So far, we have paid out over $52,000. It is remarkable that we also received $65,000 in donations from 100 donors, which speaks to your generosity. May Allah (God) reward the donations of each of you.
- We expect the trend for increased demand to continue for the next several weeks, at least until the stimulus checks arrive for those who are eligible. But we also understand that not everyone in need will receive a stimulus check. We are here to help all in need, regardless of background, religion, national origin, documentation status, etc.
- We will also work to help guide those seeking assistance to any federal, state, county or city benefits for which they may qualify.
- Please continue supporting our critical work.
SPOTLIGHT: A community member with a 3D printing business is making changeable filter masks and shields to donate to hospitals. Another community member is printing personal protective equipment (PPE) for their clinic, and will then print some for hospitals. Thank you to these community members and all for finding creative ways to serve!
Funeral Services:
- By state and county guidance, we are no longer performing Ghusl (ritual washing of the body of the deceased) at MAPS. Instead, we have contracted with a 3rd party funeral services firm that will perform the Ghusl according to Shariah/religious guidelines while conforming to state requirements.
- The Janaza/funeral prayer will also not be held at MAPS, but will be performed at the cemetery or funeral services home, with limitations based on state and county directives.
- Any questions about funeral services can be sent to funeralsvcs@mapsredmond.org.
Religious and Spiritual Services:
- Last Friday, special guest Imam Abdul Malik delivered a powerful virtual khutbah, followed by a community update by the MAPS President. If you missed it or were not able to join online, you can watch that here.
- This Friday, we will have Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool from South Africa, who will provide a virtual sermon, talking about the Muslim community response to COVID-19 from an African perspective. Follow our newsletter or check out our website for details.
- We hope to bring a variety of perspectives on Fridays at 1pm through our virtual khutbahs, while also providing the most current local updates for the community.
Educational Services:
- Our attendance on all our online educational programs continue to grow, and the weekly attendance is around 300 people.
Facility:
- While our facility is closed, we continue to have security in the building.
Programming Updates:
- We have decided to cancel the MAPS Annual Banquet scheduled for April 18 in light of coronavirus. Since that is our largest fundraising event to support all of MAPS’ programs and operations, we are planning other ways to raise funds to continue doing the religious, spiritual, educational, cultural, social, humanitarian, environmental, outreach, and advocacy work that we do at MAPS.
- We also cancelled our Annual Interfaith Iftar during Ramadan (May 6). This is our largest interfaith gathering at MAPS that receives so much positive feedback. We are exploring other ways to share Ramadan with our non-Muslim neighbors.
- Right now, we are in the planning phase for Ramadan under the assumption that we will still be under lockdown when Ramadan begins (around April 24). We will keep you posted on the plans as they develop (or change).
To find the most updated information, visit our website here .
As we prepare for another week of responding to COVID-19, we ask you all to offer your prayers to Allah SWT (God Almighty) to ease the pain and suffering of all impacted by coronavirus around the globe, to grant swift recovery to those with COVID-19, to help those in need and help us best serve them, to shower mercy upon us by ending this global pandemic, and to use this crisis as a way for all of us to get closer to Allah and increase our imaan (faith) and ibadat (acts of worship), strengthen our family bonds and community relationships, build a stronger masjid/mosque, and emerge as better human beings bringing benefit to society. Ameen.
For questions, comments, concerns or feedback, please email our MAPS COVID-19 Task Force at covid19@mapsredmond.org .
Thank you,
Hyder Ali
MAPS President