Silive.com News | Hundreds turn out for Day of Dignity event in New Brighton
– Scenes from the second annual Day of Dignity held by Islamic Relief USA with the Muslim Sisters of Staten Island at the Harbor View School on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. (Staten Island Advance/ Priya Shahi)Priya Shahi
“STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Hundreds of community members shopped for free essentials and engaged in dynamic activities at the second annual Day of Dignity, held Saturday afternoon at the Harbor View School in New Brighton by Islamic Relief USA in partnership with the Muslim Sisters of Staten Island.
Day of Dignity aims to provide, at least for a day, relief from the regular hardships that are faced by the impoverished, regardless of race, creed, or nationality.
“Poverty and homelessness, unfortunately, remain major problems. Day of Dignity events provide essential services and access,” said Sharif Aly, chief executive officer of Islamic Relief USA . “In addition to receiving food, clothing and health care, [people] also learn about the different agencies and other entities which they can connect with and continue receiving the guidance and resources necessary to help them get on a path of self-sufficiency.”
The Day of Dignity campaign consists of a series of events held around the nation to help get people who are homeless or from low-income households — among other sociological conditions — access to essential resources, such as meals, winter coats, hygiene kits, health tests, haircuts/braiding services and school supplies.
– Scenes from the second annual Day of Dignity held by Islamic Relief USA with the Muslim Sisters of Staten Island at the Harbor View School on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. (Staten Island Advance/ Priya Shahi)Priya Shahi
The event sheds light on the effects of poverty, which remains a persistent problem on the North Shore of Staten Island. According to a 2018 report by Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York, economic conditions on the North Shore are marked by wide levels of disparity. Out of the city’s 59 community districts, the report states that the North Shore has the eighth-lowest labor-force participation rate and the tenth-lowest employment-to-population ratio.
“We got diapers. We got wipes. We got lotions. We have a lot of children’s items as well as jackets and coats, food, and groceries,” said Safiyyah Abdul-Qawiyy, founder and executive director of the Muslim Sisters of Staten Island. She added the event had a safety workshop and a book reading.
– Scenes from the second annual Day of Dignity held by Islamic Relief USA with the Muslim Sisters of Staten Island at the Harbor View School on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. (Staten Island Advance/ Priya Shahi)Priya Shahi
The grant from Islamic Relief helped pay for nearly 90% of the resources at the Day of Dignity event, with additional funding from Staten Island schools and community partners, including the Center For Independence of the Disabled New York, the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, the FDNY, Richmond County REACT, Community Health Action of Staten Island, and others.”
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