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Dear Family,

Salams & Peace! Ramadan 2024 is upon us. As we are hurting and praying for our children and families in Gaza, unfortunately, we are also dealing with some serious issues here in our local communities. As you choose to support families abroad, I would also like to request you to please remember the unfortunate kids and families here in your local community. 

MY Project USA saw significant growth in programs and served over 125,000 individuals last year. While mostly funded by grants there are three areas that we are in serious need:

• Hot meals for kids in our youth programs and community
• Workforce development/job training for unemployed, marginalized women and single mothers
• Indoor recreation and community space for at-risk youth & families

Please give as much portion of your Zakata as you can. We will appreciate it very much

May God bless you more with His bounties and accept all your prayers and charity during this Ramadan.

In solidarity with youth & families,
 

Zerqa Abid

Founder & Executive Director

Provide Iftar & Sahoor to local elderly and needy this Ramadan!

We have begun our annual Iftar Kitchen, serving prepared meals and food resources to local underserved families during Ramadan. We aim to feed 100-125 people each day and it would not be possible without the support of donors and volunteers like you!

We will be receiving, packing, and distributing food at our Hilltop Youth Empowerment Center at 3275 Sullivant Ave however, this year we have added Dublin Drop-Off Location.

By the generosity of one of our volunteers, you can bring your donations at 4 pm every day to Dublin and they will be transported to our center. 

Four Weeks of Volunteer Opportunities to Provide Meals to Bless Families this Ramadan.

Week 1: March 12-18
Week 2: March 19-25
Week 3: March 26-April 1
Week 4: April 2-7

Zakat Al-Fitr

MY Project USA is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization. We serve local refugees, orphans, slaves, victims of abuse, and other needy and poor neighbors in the Columbus and Dayton areas in Ohio. We are Zakat-eligible because it falls into six of the eight categories of Zakat as commanded by Allah SWT in the following verse of Quran.

We are your ONE STOP Ramadan charity shop!!!

MY Project USA is the largest Muslim social services organization in Ohio with a track record of delivering outcomes in the most cost-effective way.

We believe all children have the right to a safe, enriching environment that will allow them to reach their full potential as productive citizens. To achieve this, we become the catalyst to protect and empower underserved youth.

We build capacity and uplift families through education, social services, civic engagement, and advocacy, creating compassionate youth who will build a safer, stronger, just, and more inclusive America.

• 7 Ways You Can Help with Your Zakat •

1. General Funds to Sustain the Organization: This is the most needed to help us build an infrastructure that would serve the community for years to come.

2. Food Pantry / MY Community Cafe: Donate your time, a financial contribution, or order from MY Community Cafe for your next lunch/dinner or catering meal.

3. Protect & Empower a Youth: Help us foster strong, compassionate, caring youth free of drugs, gangs, and other crimes. Help us raise the leaders of tomorrow through MY Reading Warriors, mentorship & education programs, sports, etc.

4. Help Uplift a Family in Need: We support families in need by paying for their rent, utilities, baby items, providing food assistance and also by job training and employment if applicable.

5. Parent/Adult Education: We offer ESL (English as a Second Language) classes, skills empowerment programs, and one-on-one counseling to refugee parents struggling with day-to-day parenting challenges in a new country.

6. Support Victims of Human Trafficking, Domestic Violence & Child Abuse

7. Help Provide Job Training & Find Employment For Those in Need

Ensuring Food Security Throughout Ramadan and Beyond for Residents in a Food Desert

MY Project USA and its initiative, MY Family Pantry, invite you to participate in our efforts to provide essential food supplies to local families in need this Eid. During this significant period, which is especially poignant for families from Muslim-majority countries, your support can make a substantial difference.

We assure you that every penny of your Zakat Al-Fitr contributions will be utilized to stock up our Eid pantry with vital food items. We're proud to report that, through generous donations last year, we managed to supply rice, sugar, oil, pasta, flour, and more to over 350 families, benefiting approximately 1500 individuals, just in time for Eid.

Your generous donation of $14.50 along with our contributions will enable us to provide $44.26 worth of food to families in need. The food package includes:

• 10 lbs flour
• 4 lbs sugar
• 60.8 oz vegetable oil 
• 20 lbs of white rice
• 10 lbs of spaghetti
• 2 boxes of cake mix
• 30 oz of spaghetti sauce
• Additional miscellaneous items

This package, valued at around $44.26, represents significant savings and provides substantial nutritional value. We plan to enrich these essentials with fresh produce and other items, making your Zakat Al-Fitr stretch even further.

(Please designate your donation to "MY Iftar/Soup Kitchen")

Mid-Ohio Market at MY Project USA powered by MY Family Pantry

Each week, we welcome over 600 local families through our doors, offering nourishing food and vital resources in collaboration with the Mid-Ohio Food Collective (MOFC). Your generous contributions enable us to extend our reach to more neighbors in need. By donating, you become an integral part of our commitment to supporting families in our community. We invite you to join us in witnessing the impact of your gift as it fills empty cups and plates across the county. Together, we can create meaningful change.

Drop Off In-Kind Donation Locations

MY Project USA is searching for more locations across central Ohio where people can leave their donations of new and gently used clothes, shoes, books, toys, and other small non-breakable items. We need your support!

We will collect the items from the bins weekly (or more frequently as needed) and sort them in our warehouse. Once organized, we offer the items for free to clients in the communities we serve. Some items are also sold at Global Gifts & Thrift, a retail location in Hilliard that is based on the Goodwill model. All proceeds of these sales go toward funding our programs.

Our organization will ensure that the area around the bins remains clean. Please contact Noorullah Shinwari at (614) 817-9159 with questions or if you are interested in partnering with us. Thank you!

If you are looking to drop off items to donate, our bins are at the following locations:
   • Ahlul Bayt Society – 2580 W. Dublin Granville Rd. Columbus, OH 43235
   • Bethel International United Methodist Church – 1220 Bethel Rd. Columbus, OH 43220
   • Covenant Baptist Church – 5100 Dierker Rd. Columbus, OH 43220
   • Heritage Christian Church – 7413 Maxtown Rd. Westerville, OH 43082
   • MAS Youth Center – 4615 Northtowne Blvd. Columbus, OH 43229
   • Masjid Nimrah – 4501 Refugee Rd. Columbus, OH 43232
   • MY Deah's Warehouse – 4004 Fondorf Dr. Columbus, OH 43228. (Business Hours Only)
   • Noor Islamic Cultural Center – 5001 Wilcox Rd. Dublin, OH 43016
   • Omar Ibn El-Khattab Masjid – 580 Riverview Dr. Columbus, OH 43202
   • The Destiny Center – 1561 Old Leonard Ave. Columbus, OH 43219
   • The First Congregational Church – 444 E. Broad St. Columbus, OH 43215
   • Turkish American Society of Ohio (TASO) – 2885 W. Dublin Granville Rd. Columbus, OH 43235