— Muslim Alliance of Indiana

Message from Muslim Alliance of Indiana on MLK Day of Service

“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” – Muhammad Ali

Over the years a number of mosques and Islamic organizations in Indiana have organize activities on and around Dr. Martin Luther King Day of Service.

The Muslim Alliance of Indiana (MAI) and Council of Indiana Muslim Organizations (CIMO) encourages Muslim Hoosiers to engage in community service to not only commemorate the day, but to help grow in civic engagement throughout the year.

Examples of activities are
· visiting a senior home or nursing home
· assisting neighbors with needs, such as household chores of seniors, and homework assistance of schoolchildren
· stocking up a food pantry
· winter clothing drive
· helping out at a soup kitchen
· helping at a public library

The following websites include ‘tool-kits’ to organize service activities. Some of them may require more advance planning than others, and CIMO members are encouraged to consider the ideas here, for this year and future years:
http://riseforamerica.org/campaigns/#martin-luther-king
http://www.nationalservice.gov/special-initiatives/days-service/martin-luther-king-jr-day-service/plan-toolkits
Thanks to Br. Fady Qaddoura for this information.

The Indiana Civil Rights Commission had compiled a list of events and activities in Indiana on its website. This list has NOT been updated for 2015. However, the statewide phone and email contacts that are listed here may be helpful for CIMO members to get connected and participate in activities that are being organized. Please do not assume that the activities and dates given here are valid for 2015.
http://www.in.gov/icrc/2410.htm

The Muslim Alliance of Indiana (MAI) and CIMO would like to share plans, opportunities, and ideas for service events for the weekend of January 16-19, 2015. Below are some Muslim Hoosier activities for January 2015 MLK Day of Service, known to MAI at this time.

1- Interfaith breakfast in Fishers on Monday 19th at the Delaware Township Community Center, including the newly elected mayor of Fishers and key faith leaders and civic activists from the greater Indianapolis community, aimed to create an interfaith coalition to coordinate public service campaigns in Fishers. For more information, contact Br. Fady Qaddoura (fadyloy@hotmail.com)

2- IUPUI MSA will participate in the IUPUI MLK Day of Service on Monday 19th http://csl.iupui.edu/partnerships/student-service/events/dr-king.shtml
Similarly MSAs at other university campuses may be involved in their respective campus activities. https://www.facebook.com/IUPUIMSA and https://www.facebook.com/events/1581732665394016/

3- Masjid Al-Mumineen and SHARE center of Indy plan to offer assistance, food, hats and gloves to their neighbors, working with the Keystone Millersville Neighborhood Association. They will also visit seniors in nursing homes. They will visit neighbors on Saturday 17th to survey their needs and visit again on Monday 19th to provide service. Please contact Chaplain Ismail Abdul-Aleem (ialeem@idoc.IN.gov) to contribute or participate. http://www.masjidmumineen.com/#!share-center/c1twn

4- Several other masajid are working on plans, which we will share as information becomes available.

This is just a sample of possibilities and planned activities. Please reply to Carey Craig at MAI (carey@indianamuslims.org) and let us know as soon as possible about your plans, which we will share for the benefit of others.

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