Participate for Impact, and Islamic Relief USA initiative, is a pilot event that brings together IRUSA’s Volunteer Management Office, US Programs, Advocacy, and Fundraising departments to work together on events that will bring change to the world.
The first Participate for Impact event was held in the SoCal region with Sabil as a partner. We had over 80 volunteers that came to pack a meal, get advocacy training, and stayed for a fundraising dinner. The event was very successful, and many participants agreed that they found the event beneficial.
The second event was in Dallas, TX on Sept 14 with MAS Dallas as a partner. The meals packed at that event were distributed at Maarouf, an IRUSA refugee resettlement partner. In both events, attendees were given the opportunity to learn about domestic policies that impact the communities that they care about. We discussed the Farm Bill, Child Tax Credit, and the Afghan Adjustment Act. We want our supporters to know that there are many ways to support IRUSA, not just with donations but with advocacy and volunteering as well.
Advocates learned about the Child Tax Credit. They urged their representatives to prioritize ending childhood hunger and poverty by supporting the Child Tax Credit (CTC) improvements included in the bipartisan, bicameral Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024.
The improvements prioritize the millions of children whose families currently receive only a partial credit or no credit at all because their incomes are too low — approximately 16 million children will benefit. These are the children and families most in need of the CTC.
The improved CTC will also lift half a million children out of poverty. Childhood poverty in the US more than doubled in the last couple of years. The CTC improvements will help lower childhood poverty rates.
In further efforts to eradicate hunger in the US (and abroad), advocates were introduced to the Farm Bill. The Farm Bill funds federal nutrition programs in the US, provides international food aid and helps communities build resilience against long-term challenges and sudden disasters. With hunger on the rise, the Farm Bill would strengthen and protect these vital programs so they work even better for hungry children.
Finally, advocates were encouraged to push for an Afghan Adjustment Act. Since the fall of Kabul in August 2021, millions of Afghans have been displaced from their homes, including many who risked their lives in support of the US mission. During the evacuation, the US welcomed more than 76,000 Afghans via humanitarian parole, which provides only temporary protection and no clear path to permanent status.
Even though the vast majority of Afghan parolees are eligible for asylum or Special Immigrant Visas, fewer than 10% have secured permanent protections due to long backlogs and processing delays. It is more important than ever to advocate for an Afghan Adjustment Act.
To find out more information on IRUSA’s Participate for Impact initiative, please visit our website or email Aseel Elborno at [email protected].