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According to her, “MWRC served a total of 15,000 clients in 2009, and every year the number of clients continues to increase.” ^ UMMA: In Waukegan, IL, ever since 2004 the Urban Muslim Minority Alliance (www.ummacenters.org) has helped the underprivileged with educational support, community resources, and outreach programs designed to strengthen the Lake County community. It remains one of that area’s few initiatives. This year, the Jewel-Osco grocery store chain awarded UMMA with its Hunger Relief Award and a grant for the organization’s successful food distribution program. “There are many needy people that rely on the UMMA Center’s food pantry program; we have worked hard to make it one of the best services we provide to Lake County,” commented Arshia Ali-Khan, fund and strategic development director. “It is because of programs like Jewel-Osco’s and the support of the community that the UMMA Center can provide its services.” The award recognizes organizations that help increase efficiency, access, and distribution of nutritious food to those with limited economic resources. Last year, UMMA received the Google AdWords Advertising grant (totaling $120,000) in recognition of its efforts to furnish educational support and community resources to Lake County’s inhabitants. ^ American Association of Retired Asians: Dr. Talat Khan, founder and presi-
dent of Chicago’s secular American Association of Retired Asians (http://retiredasi ans.org.p12.hostingprod.com/home), relates: “We’ve built temples and mosques, climbed the corporate ladder, been role models and lately, have been helping our children raise families of their own, and yet, our work is not quite done. … About 70 percent of people over age 65 require some services. Even as our peers are retiring, they are unable to accept that their and our needs for care will increase. Children won’t have the time to always be there for us, even if they wanted to.” Faced with the reality that the first generation of South Asian and Middle Eastern immigrants were ailing and aging at a time when no culturally appropriate support systems were in place, AARA decided to help out. It was also obvious that physical ailments were increasingly symptoms of mental anguish and loneliness. “People rarely want to think about a time when they might need long-term care. So planning ahead for this possibility often gets put off. Delays until a family ISLAMIC HORIZONS 43
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