A CALIFORNIA 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT TAX EXEMPT ORGANIZATION AND OPERATED SOLELY BY DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS
BISMILLAH. AR-RAZZAQ FOOD BANK CARE PACKAGE PROGRAM
HOW IT WORKS
We are not set up as a food center or storage place where needy individuals and families can come to collect food for security reasons. We opted to minimize confusion and eliminate the inundated phone calls requesting for food assistance by re-directing them to local masajid in Sacramento. We may re-direct callers to other local organizations for assistance, whereby the applicants will be identified or verified for their legitimacy as needy individuals or families. The local masajid and Islamic non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will keep the list of those who are in need and will update us as they deem necessary. When we have sufficient inventory of food supply, we contact these masajid and Islamic NGOs as well as homeless centers in the greater Sacramento area (as trusty agents). We will provide them with care packages containing assorted zabihah/halal (acceptable in Islam) food products, which will be distributed to the less fortunate, needy and impoverished Muslim families as well as the homeless in their local communities. MORE ABOUT FOOD PROGRAM
Care packages serve as short-term relief to those who frequent Sacramento area masajid in need of food which the masajid or others Islamic NGOs cannot provide
Ar-Razzaq Food Bank sets a quota to each masjid or Islamic NGO, and the number of packages will depend entirely on what is available on our premises
Our office will contact agents of the masajid when we have food available
The masajid will have to decide to whom or when to deliver these packages to the needy among their local community or ummah
Ar-Razzaq Food Bank will decide the numbers of packages going out to different venues, each distribution must be authorized by our office and must be signed by all agents who accept them
The frequency and the items we give totally depend on our existing food supplies
If we have aplenty, then, the agents may expect frequent monthly drop-off of care packages
If we have a deficit, then, very few packages will be distributed despite the demands from the needy
Our office policy disallow any walk-ins and for safety reasons we will not accept visitors EXCEPT those with prior approval
Ar-Razzaq Food Bank will arrange for seasonal mass distributions to celebrate Islamic rituals and rites where the amount of food given will depend entirely on the amount of donations we get
FOOD ITEMS IN THE CARE PACKAGES
For the random homeless individuals, the contents in a care package may include any of these items:
canned fruits, bread or crackers, peanut butter/jelly, bottled water, cereal, soup
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For special event, once or twice a year, we may give provisions to feed the homeless for a luncheon program at Loaves & Fishes Center, a nonprofit soup kitchen that caters exclusively to them:
zabihah meats such as chicken leg quarters, breads or rice
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When possible, we may give provisions to the homeless students at Mustard Seed School, a nonprofit that caters exclusively to them:
kid-friendly lunch snacks OR weekend-to-go packages OR school supplies
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For special events, marking seasonal Islamic celebrations and rites such as the fasting month of Ramadhan and the two Eids, we may send to Sacramento area masajid and/or Islamic NGOs:
Rice, pasta, pasta sauce, pita bread, assorted dried legumes, canned vegetables, canned fruit, peanut butter/jelly, cooking oil, sugar, flour, cereal, dates, zabihah meats
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For regular monthly distribution we may send to Sacramento area masajid and/or Islamic NGOs:
Rice, oil, sugar, flour, cereal, assorted dried legumes, cereal, pasta, pasta sauce, zabihah meats (if available)
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The beneficiaries who frequent the masajid/NGOs comprised of many ethnic groups:
Africans
Afghanis
African-Americans
Asians
Caucasians
Eastern Europeans
Indo-Pakistanis
Latinos
Middle Easterners
South Asians
The following local masajid in greater Sacramento are listed as our active conduits and/or as a stand-by participant when the need arises:
1) Masjid Annur on 65th Street
2) Masjid As-Sabur on 15th Avenue
3) Masjid Ibrahim on Rio Linda Blvd
4) Masjid Jamee’ on V St Downtown
5) Masjid SALAM on College Oak Dr
6) MAS Family Social Services Foundation on Auburn Blvd
7) Muslim Community & Youth Center on Big Horn Rd in Elk Grove
8) Masjid Tawheed in Elk Grove
9) Muslim Community of Roseville (aka Islamic Society of Placer County)
10) Vietnamese community in South Sacramento
11) Islamic Society of Folsom
12) Muslim Community of Folsom
13) Islamic Society of Rancho Cordova
14) Possibility- South Sacramento Islamic Society on 25th St
Each masjid/NGO selects a volunteer as trusty agent, or a special committee that takes a voluntary role as our contact . All masajid have set rules in regards to how they qualify or quantify any type of assistance given the applicants. They must adhere to Sunnah as well as internal policies. We advise you to provide necessary documentation to these masajid, if asked and if needed, to facilitate the qualifying process.
