Alexandria, VA – Volunteers with Islamic Relief USA, which entered into a partnership with Rise Against Hunger to help provide food to populations in need, helped pack more than a half-million meals during 2018 at several locations around the country.
“In the face of this staggering challenge, Islamic Relief USA has, in partnership with Rise Against Hunger, embraced the Sustainable Development Goal of creating Zero Hunger by 2030. And, together, we are making a difference,” said Rod Brooks, president and chief executive officer at Rise Against Hunger.
In 2018, IRUSA, which had also marked its 25th anniversary, made tremendous strides in reaching the anti-hunger goal. Some 2,586 IRUSA volunteers packed 548,208 meals at 35 events in 15 cities around the country. In addition, IRUSA received some $158,980.32 in donations toward hunger reduction.
The meals, which consisted of rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables and 23 essential vitamins and minerals, were distributed in 14 countries. They include: North Korea, Haiti, the Philippines, Uganda, Madagascar, Vietnam, Malawi, Swaziland, Columbia, Zambia, South Africa, Guatemala, Dominican Republic and Timor Leste.
“This is a tremendous achievement and it is a testament to our loyal and dedicated volunteers,” said Said Durrah, national volunteer manager for IRUSA. “Our initial goal was to pack 500,000 meals by the end of 2018. The fact that we packed those meals by utilizing the efforts of 35 different groups of volunteers all over the country, and surpassing that goal, makes it all the more extraordinary. Being able to work with terrific organizations like Rise Against Hunger makes this experience even more rewarding.”
“We know this incredible feat cannot be achieved on our own and it is only when companies and organizations, such as Islamic Relief USA, support these efforts that we can reach this goal together,” Peggy Shriver, chief development officer at Rise Against Hunger. “The bottom line: if volunteers and faithful partners such as you did not act, there would be 72 million fewer meals provided to those in need.”
MEDIA CONTACT
Syed M. Hassan
media@irusa.org or
(703) 370-7246 (landline)
(571) 421-7032 (cell)
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Islamic Relief USA, based in Alexandria, Va., is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) humanitarian organization. Its mission is to alleviate suffering, hunger, illiteracy and disease regardless of color, race, gender or creed, and to provide aid in a compassionate and dignified manner. Islamic Relief USA aims to provide rapid relief in the event of human and natural disasters and to establish sustainable local development projects, allowing communities to better help themselves. Its programs benefit millions of people each year around the world, including in the United States.
Islamic Relief USA meets all of the Standards for Charity Accountability of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, a national charity monitoring group affiliated with the Better Business Bureau system. Islamic Relief USA is on the U.S. government’s Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) charity list, and it is also a signatory to the code of conduct of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
About Rise Against Hunger
Rise Against Hunger, an international hunger relief organization, aims to show the world that it is, in fact, possible to end hunger by the year 2030. With 20 U.S. locations and five international offices, the organization is committed to nourishing lives, providing emergency aid, empowering communities and growing the hunger movement. Rise Against Hunger has facilitated the packaging of more than 380 million meals distributed to 74 countries around the world.