Alexandria, VA – Alexandria, Va. – Islamic Relief USA is sending volunteers to participate in relief efforts in Puerto Rico, which is still recovering from the extensive damage it sustained in the wake of Hurricane Maria.
IRUSA previously sent personnel shortly after the hurricane touched down last September. But recent news reports have made it clear much more help is needed, in order to enable people to return to the daily lives they were accustomed to before the massive storm.
“The people of Puerto Rico need our assistance, as it is obvious that many parts of the island are far from returning to the sense of normalcy that previously existed,” said Sharif Aly, chief executive officer of Islamic Relief USA. “We want to make sure people don’t go hungry and that we can provide comfort in whatever way possible during this still-difficult period. Our thoughts and prayers are with our fellow sisters and brothers in Puerto Rico.”
IRUSA will be partnering with volunteers from the Lions Club of Puerto Rico, an organization that has 13 chapters on the island. The volunteers will be in the Bayuna neighborhood of San Juan.
Hani Hamwi, leader of IRUSA’s Disaster Response Team, said the Lions Club’s familiarity with and knowledge of the island and the people most in need made partnering with the organization a huge draw.
The primary focus of the mission will be to distribute food boxes to residents of San Juan who are handicapped, bed-ridden, and have no access to transportation. The food boxes contain meals and items that are common on the island.
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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.