All children deserve it, not all children have it.
While childhoods are for positive development, challenging times are upon us and too many children are left without the supportive opportunities they deserve to have. According to Chicago Public Schools (CPS), more than 80 percent of students are economically disadvantaged. Without the proper resources provided, our children cannot have a proper learning experience. While our Chicago schools are in a financial drought, our children are the ones suffering.
On Sunday, August 27th, Zakat Foundation of America hosted the first in a series of Volunteer Days drawing more than 200 volunteers. Zakat Foundation of America volunteers worked collectively in swift assembly lines and were able to package 835 backpacks with school supplies and wrap over 400 Eid holiday gifts. These school bags and Eid gifts have already been distributed to children of refugee and low-income families throughout the Chicagoland area.
During a short break for spiritual reflection, the volunteers huddled around Sister Amal Ali, Zakat Foundation of America Outreach Manager, as she captivated their attention with a compelling speech on the power of service and unity.