CHICAGO, April 23, 2020 — Baitulmaal, a Dallas-based humanitarian organization, teamed up with the Islamic Community Center of Illinois and MAS Youth Chicago for a drive-through food pantry and delivered 125 food packages to more than 80 families impacted by the economic downturn resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The drive-through food pantry took place at 6425 W Belmont Avenue in Chicago on Thursday, April 23, 2020, between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Local residents in need of food assistance drove through and received food box donations. Volunteers wore masks and gloves to protect beneficiaries as they drove through the line.
Baitulmaal Midwest Region Coordinator Saad Hassan said he hopes the food assistance helps people get through these difficult times.
“You can see on their faces that these boxes meant so much more than food,” said Hassan. “Each food package was a box of hope, a lifeline in a time when everyone feels they are drowning.”
Hassan said they packed 100 boxes but ran out one hour early. His group of volunteers put together an additional 25 boxes and distributed those before concluding the program.
Hassan’s organization raised more than $100,000 earlier this month to help people impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We continue to raise money so we can help more people,” Hassan continued. “We want to do more of these drive-through food pantries because they are urgently needed.”
For more information about Baitulmaal or to contribute to its COVID-19 relief fund, please visit https://baitulmaal.org.
Baitulmaal is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides life-saving, life-sustaining and life-enriching aid to people in need around the world. With headquarters in Dallas, the charity has offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit and New Jersey as well as international offices in Jordan, Kenya, Somalia and Pakistan.
# # #