Our Coronavirus Relief Efforts
بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
In the name of Allah the most Merciful the most Compassionate
We are in a midst of an unprecedented global crisis and we know that helping others is a core principle of Islam and making a positive impact in our community is embedded in our mission here at Stronger Together. As part of our commitment to community, we have been working diligently to identify opportunities to support our community. We have received numerous messages and emails from our community to step up and you have shared great suggestions with us on how we can help. We want to inform you about our Coronavirus Relief Efforts that we plan to undertake as a collective. In times like these, we have to show how Allah (swt) has blessed us in being Stronger Together. Below you find more information about our various initiatives as a part of our Coronavirus Relief Efforts.
Allah (SWT) says “Is the reward for good [anything] but good?’ 55:60
Our beloved Prophet (SAW) said "Whosoever removes a worldly grief from a believer, Allah will remove from him one of the grievances of the Day of Judgment. Whosoever alleviates the needs of a needy person, Allah will alleviate his needs in this world and the next. Whosoever conceals the faults of a Muslim, Allah will conceal his faults in this world and the next. Allah will aid a servant [of His] so long as the servant aids his brother". Muslim
Community Resilience Initiative
Direct Support Response
We are invested in unique approaches that empower our community and deliver the support they need when they need it. Some of these include providing essentials and hygiene kits such as feminine hygiene kits, deodorant, shampoo and body wash, oral hygiene kits, etc to those most vulnerable in our Muslim Community. As well as Religious and Spiritual support to Muslims in Hospitals, increasing Muslim Chaplain service capacity, and collaborating with Hospitals on alternative solutions to provide support to high-risk patients through video visits.
Muslim Inmate Support Service
Making a Difference
This initiative is a three part support system. Our first part is helping those who are incarcerated with receiving religious services (which includes visiting jails and prisons as faith-based organizations providing religious services irrespective of whatever crime individuals are accused of). Next, we aim to help those being held in county jails or pre-trial detention facilities through legal aid. Finally, we understand that simply being released doesn’t mean a good transition. Therefore, we want to help improve the transition back to normal life and connect individuals with resources such as housing assistance, job search and continuous community engagement. Family and friends of inmates and those who have been released who need our assistance can submit a form on our website.
International Islamic Relief Aid
Doing What’s Needed
We are undertaking an international relief effort to assist Muslim countries in most need of the necessary supplies required to fight the coronavirus pandemic. We have on order: 100,000 hygiene kits which include purifier of water powder packet, feminine hygiene kits, deodorant, shampoo and body wash, oral hygiene kits, triple antibiotic ointment, etc. As well as supporting Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and Health Care Providers with PPE’s (Personal Protective Equipment) which include 280,000 supplies of masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, first aid kits, fingertip pulse oximeters, Infrared thermometers, electrostatic sprayer, etc. to Yemen, Somalia, Syria and Refugee Camps in Kenya.
Food Insecurity Relief Grant
Supporting those Making a Difference
We’re committing to supporting Muslim Organizations with a Food Insecurity Relief Grant (FIRG) which will help in funding up to 30,000 meals in Minnesota. This initiative helps us ensure that these Muslim Organizations are better positioned to address the unique situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic in our community. Organizations can request an amount between $500 - $7,000 in FIRG.
Impacts of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Programs
Background
Information about this health crisis:
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in both humans and animals. In 2019, a new strain of human coronavirus emerged, COVID-19. Illnesses associated with this virus were first reported in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. It has been found in a number of other countries, as well as in the United States and it has become a global health crisis.
According to the CDC, the main way COVID-19 is spread to others is when an infected person coughs or sneezes. This is similar to how influenza is spread. The virus is found in droplets from the throat and nose. When someone coughs or sneezes, other people near them can breathe in those droplets. The virus can also spread when someone touches an object with the virus on it. If that person touches their mouth, face, or eyes the virus can make them sick. Early data by health experts suggest that older people and people with severe chronic medical conditions are twice as likely to have serious illness from the novel coronavirus.
The symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to the flu with fever, coughing and shortness of breath. It appears to mainly be spread through close person-to-person contact. It may be possible for someone to touch a surface or object with the virus on it and then touch their nose or mouth and become infected, but this is not the main way the virus spreads, according to CDC and other health experts.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the following to prevent the spread of any Respiratory disease:
● Avoid close contact with people who are sick and use Cloth Face Coverings.
● Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
● Stay home from school or work when you are sick.
● If you need to cough or sneeze, cover your mouth with an elbow or tissue. Then wash your hands right away.
● Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
● Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
● If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
● Don’t eat raw or undercooked animal products.
Program Updates
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April 22, 2020
STMN Transition to Virtual Halaqah
RE: Ramadan Series
We are transitioning our Halaqah's to virtual meetings via the Zoom Application in collaboration with Stronger Together Ohio. We are beginning this Saturday at 5-6:30pm CT. The meeting access code will be posted Saturday morning inshallah.
March 13, 2020
STMN Halaqah Cancellation
RE: COVID -19
We are in a phase In this outbreak called “Community Mitigation” which involves all of us taking actions to slow the spread of COVID-19, the Novel Coronavirus.
In order to aid the community mitigation strategies being undertaken, we have decided to cancel our Weekly Halaqah’s for the time being.
We understand the stressful nature of this ordeal and the possible negative consequences of social isolation from this outbreak and we would like nothing more than continuing to come together for the sake of Allah and in companionship but we have a responsibility to do our part and that lead to our decision. Our hearts go out to those affected and we pray to Allah swt for relief and patience. Be sure to check up on your friends and family and help in any way you can. Inshallah we will get through this with the mercy of Allah.
March 12, 2020
On the March 2nd Memo, we outlined our responsibilities to our stakeholders, responses to the challenges posed by the outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus or Covid-19. We made the decision to continue with our Retreat as scheduled and take precautionary measures by restricting people who traveled to the affected areas from our Dallas Spring Retreat and practice the recommended hygiene guidelines.
However we also informed you that we would continue to assess this developing health crisis and make the necessary adjustments required in this unique situation.
After careful assessment and consultations with our team and broader collective we have made the following decision. Dallas Spring Retreat is cancelled
Here’s our assessment:
Islamic Perspective: The Prophet pbuh said, "If you hear of an outbreak of plague in a land, do not enter it; but if the plague breaks out in a place while you are in it, do not leave that place." Sahih Bukhari
Health Experts: They recommend social distancing, limiting social and large gatherings and possibly avoiding non-essential travel and other movement restrictions based on risk level.
Our consultation with our Dallas area sheikhs and imams and their recommendations on cancelling due to high risk.
Our goal is to reduce the risk that anyone at Stronger Together might contract or inadvertently spread the virus. It is important that we take these proactive steps to protect ourselves and others and minimize the spread of COVID-19.
We’ve made an independent decision to cancel and do not take cancelation lightly. We’ve worked very hard over the last couple of months to plan our Retreat for the almost 100 brothers that were set to go on this trip. We hope Allah swt continues to keep us safe and give us an opportunity to embark on this journey some other time inshallah.
Salaam, Stronger Together Initiatives
March 3, 2020
We are a group that undertakes significant travel throughout the year and in our first year 2019, we logged over 16,535 miles safely by the will of Allah SWT. As such we have a responsibility of ensuring the health and safety of our people and are always monitoring current conditions for possible disruptions and risks to our trips.
In light of the recent outbreak of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19 or 2019-nCoV, Stronger Together has enacted several precautionary measures to ensure the wellbeing of our people.
Stronger Together asks those individuals who traveled to mainland China within the last 14 days, South Korea and Japan as of Feb. 19 or Iran, the Lombardy and Veneto regions of Italy as of Feb. 22 as well as people who have been in close contact with people who have traveled to those areas, or travelers who have passed through airports and train stations in the affected or any other affected regions to excuse themselves from our Initiatives Trips.
These restrictions and guidance are effective immediately and will continue until the World Health Organization or Centers for Disease Control deem it appropriate to step back from pandemic precautionary measures or when a vaccine becomes available.
At this time we believe the risk remains low for our trips and there are no changes but we’ll continue to assess this developing health crisis and communicate any further updates as we have them.
