Posted by: ICNA Relief Chicago
Yesterday, ICNA Relief volunteers took Iraqi Refugee children and their parents on a field trip. Volunteers started picking up the children from their homes in Rogers Park at 9:30 AM before heading to Safariland located in Lombard. Children including boys and girls ages from 4 to 14 years had a wonderful time riding on Roller Coasters, Go Carts, Max Flight, Bumper Cars, Mary Go Round and playing other games. They also enjoyed the pizza and pop in the lunch break.
After the Safariland adventure, volunteers took the children and parents to the Islamic Foundation to offer Zuhr prayer and to give them a tour of the Masjid. "They were all very impressed with the size and beauty of the Islamic Foundation as it was their first time since they have arrived in US form Iraq to see a Masjid and school of this size and elegance," said Saad Siddiqui, coordinator of ICNA Relief Chicago chapter.
From Islamic Foundation, they were taken to ICNA Relief Thrift Store located on Ardmore and Roosevelt Rd. At the Thrift store, the parents and children picked-up cloths, shoes, toys, school bags, and many other things of their like and size free of cost. They were also given the rice, cereal, oil, canned, and other food items at no cost from the Food Pantry located inside the Thrift Store to help them prepare for the month of Ramadan. The Thrift Store was the last stop of this day long field trip and from there, volunteers took them back to their homes.
"Alhamdulillah it was a very humbling experience for all the volunteers," said Siddiqui. "The children and their parents were very happy as many of them commented that this was the most exciting day of their life since they have come to US. We would like to thank all the volunteers who spent many days preparing for this program and sacrificing the big part of their weekend with these children (many of whom are orphans) when they had the option to be with their own families and friends".
To help ICNA Relief financially or if you'd like to volunteer in the similar activities in the future, please don’t hesitate to send us an email at Relief@ICNAChicago.org.
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Alhamdulillah it was a very humbling experience for all the volunteers," said Siddiqui. "The children and their parents were very happy as many of them commented that this was the most exciting day of their life since they have come to US.
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