Packing strong belief in sharing

Editor's Note: ICNA Relief's goal has been updated.

Since 2011, every August, the Islamic Center of Cape Girardeau has gathered school supplies and packed them into bags for children in need -- not just because they want to give back to the community, but because they need to.

Ahmad Sheikh, a practicing doctor in Cape Girardeau and member of the Islamic Center, said in Islam, members share two things: worldly belongings that come from God, and words of wisdom that come from God.

"For a Muslim, it's not an option to share," he said. "It's an obligation."

And education is extremely important, he said -- the first word revealed in the Quran was "read."

So, Ahmad Sheikh said, "we want to make sure those who don't have enough, have enough to get started."

This year, the Islamic Center in Cape Girardeau is donating 330 bags in Cape Girardeau and the surrounding area, and will send some bags as far as Sikeston, Missouri, and Carbondale, Illinois.

The Islamic Center coordinates with ICNA Relief USA, a Muslim organization working in 37 states to aid in disaster relief and social services including hunger prevention, education, medical clinics and refugee assistance, among other programs, Ahmad Sheikh said.

Overall, ICNA Relief's goal for the Back 2 School Giveaway is 50,000 backpacks given to children in need, he said.

For the local effort, Ahmad Sheikh said, every year's goal is different. The first year, they prepared 700 bags, based on a community survey.

This year, the goal is more modest, but Ahmad Sheikh said the group tries to tailor its efforts.

The entire community contributes to the yearly effort, said Maria Sheikh, with five to six volunteers at a time working to pack the backpacks with a pair of scissors, pencils, a ruler and eraser, a pencil case, notebook, sheaf of looseleaf paper, a folder, white glue, pencil sharpener, markers and crayons -- the essentials.

"We've distributed more than 3,000 bags since 2011," Ahmad Sheikh said.

"Education is important," said Maria Sheikh. "I think that's something we can all agree about."

The giveaway will be held today from 4 to 6 p.m. in the hall behind the Islamic Center, at 298 N. West End Blvd. in Cape Girardeau.

More information is online at www.back2schoolgiveaway.com.

mniederkorn@semissourian.com

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