GOOD DEED THANKSGIVING It was thanksgiving eve, HUNGER VAN was stuck in traffic on Route 1 south on the way to a Hunger Run hosted by Noor-ul-Iman high school students in South Brunswick. Students were anxiously waiting to start the thanksgiving activities by preparing meals for the homeless and hungry, and be thankful for all the worldly things they are blessed with. Hunger Van pulls in front of the multipurpose room at the Islamic Society of Central Jersey, Naushin Tamboo, a substitute teacher and also mother of the senior, Mahira Tmaboo organizer of the event announced, “Guys HUNGER VAN is here let us unload supplies to make meals for the homeless and hungry in our backyard”. Umair Masood, a senior, gets in the van and starts passing the supplies to the volunteers of Hunger Van Club. After all the supplies were brought into the multipurpose room, volunteers gather in a circle around the coach, Zamir Hassan, to get instruction about the meal preparation. Before we start, I would like to ask a question, said Mr. Hassan, “What is the legal definition of hunger and a hungry person? And how many Americans are classified hungry by department of agriculture?” After a pin drop silence in room, as the students looked at each other, Mr. Hassan explained. ”In our country, 49 million people live in food insecure households i.e. they don’t know where their next meal is coming from. Almost 16 million of these people include young children for whom hunger is a way of life”. As Muslim, we are not supposed to sleep, if our neighbor is hungry. Mahira Tamboo formed the Hunger Van Club at the school after she attended a similar event at the house of a friend. She said “I wanted, myself and my school mates to fulfill our faith obligation in a fun way, HUNGER VAN hosting gives us a chance to help our needy neighbors and also have fun after a busy school day”. Our hunger Van Club is growing and we plan to have one homeless feeding event every month. Its really fun activity to help us grow, Said Mahira Tamboo. Azra Baig, a member, board of education in South Brunswick, who was helping at the event said, “It is important to have the youth, to be aware of the significance of helping the less fortunate which is a value that is taught in all faiths. This event is one of the many ways that the students that attend NUI can help others and is a reminder for all to be always thankful for blessings” Volunteers prepared in two hours, Honey-B sandwiches and Chickaro salad for 150 people. The meals were distributed by HUNGER VAN to a homeless shelter in New Brunswick and the needy in Newark for a Thanksgiving lunch. The following pictures show the Volunteers in Action.
Posted on: Thu, 28 Nov 2013 20:36:08 +0000
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