Learn About Islam @ Islamic Information Center

Several events have happened recently; here are updates.

Winter Clothing Drive, held late December. Collected and distributed approximately 35 bags of winter clothes. Beneficiaries included:

• Pregnancy Aid of Greenbelt
• A privately-run clothing distribution center in Baltimore that gives clothes for free to those in need
• My Friend’s Closet in Beltsville, a thrift store which benefits the Arc of Montgomery County, which is a program that provides services to mentally disabled adults
• Many local community members from the College Park area

Many thanks to all the volunteers who made it possible, and to the members of the College Park Church of the Nazarene for their contributions.

National Day of Service, January 19th. Approximately 15 adults and youth from Dar-us-Salaam in College Park; from Shirat HaNefesh, a Jewish community in Silver Spring; and several visitors in town for the inauguration joined together to volunteer at the Dinner Program for Homeless Women as part of the National Day of Service. Part of the Islamic Information Center’s regular service program, this month’s event at the soup kitchen was a special opportunity to meet people from various faiths from Maryland and nearby states. Alhamdulillah, our guests took advantage of the opportunity to ask many questions about Islam and Muslims, and it was a very positive exchange of knowledge.

Masjid visit, January 25th. A group of local high-school and college-aged youth visited Dar-us-Salaam, as part of their church youth group’s exercise in learning about different religions. For most of the youth (and also the adult group leader) it was their first visit to a masjid. They were specifically interested in learning about the way Muslims pray, so we had arranged for them to come at dhuhr time so they could observe our prayer. They found it interesting, and commented that they appreciated the opportunity to meet Muslims and ask questions.