Alexandria, VA – Islamic Relief USA will hold meal packaging events in Virginia and New Jersey to benefit school children in several African nations. IRUSA is part of an alliance with Rise Against Hunger and Adventist Development Relief Agency (ADRA) International that was formed a few years ago to address the aftermath of a devastating El Nino drought that severely impacted many southern African countries.
The meal packaging Events will take place at the following two Rise Against Hunger locations:
*Ashburn, Virginia – 44645 Guilford Dr., Suite 210, Ashburn, Virginia 20147
Saturday, March 24, 2018
Media availability from noon – 1 p.m.
*Kearny, New Jersey – 110 Central Ave. Suite 190, Kearny, NJ 07032
Sunday, March 25, 2018
Media availability from noon – 1 p.m.
“This is a tremendous program to help ensure young students in several African nations have access to nutritious meals that will help them learn better in school,” said Said Durrah, national volunteer manager for IRUSA. “Countless studies have shown the link between healthful food and better concentration. Being able to work with terrific organizations like Rise Against Hunger and ADRA International makes this experience even more worthy.”
“We consider Islamic Relief USA a vital partner in our fight against hunger”, said Edna Ogwangi, chief impact officer for Rise Against Hunger. “In collaboration with ADRA International, Islamic Relief USA plays a crucial role in implementing our three-year, five-country Southern Africa Schools Feeding Initiative. Through their support, more than 47,000 students have a guaranteed lunch each day, and we are excited to bring our collective impact full circle by having them join us in alleviating
hunger through the meal-packaging event.”
Islamic Relief USA volunteers are expected to pack more than 10,000 meals at each location. The meals consist of rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables and 23 essential vitamins and minerals. The program will benefit school children in Mozambique, Madagascar, Malawi, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe.
All of these countries have suffered in recent years form either natural or manmade disasters. The project supports more than 48,000 primary school age students in Mozambique, Malawi, Madagascar, Swaziland and Zimbabwe each year. Through the initiative, over 14 million meals each year are distributed in more than 200 schools. So far, the school-feeding initiative proves to be critical in encouraging attendance, increasing enrollment and providing access to a balanced, nutritious meal to children affected by the El Niño drought.
Islamic Relief USA will work with ADRA to distribute the meals.
MEDIA CONTACT
Syed M. Hassan
[email protected]
(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.