Community Services
An essential part of the Islamic faith is doing acts of good for others. Our community services aim to provide essential services to communities in need as well as provide opportunities for our youth to get involved in acts of good, become agents of change, and spread dawah to our neighbors through their righteous actions.
PUBLIC HEALTH
Muslims experience unique barriers when it comes to accessible healthcare. This includes lack of health insurance and/or primary care providers, limited English proficiency, and limited health literacy. We aim to fill that gap by bringing public health services directly into our center.
For years, our country has been going through a national blood shortage. To rise to this challenge, we organize annual blood drives to encourage fellow community members to donate blood to help save lives.
Blood Drives
Mammograms on Wheels
American Muslims have rates of mammography utilization lower than the national average. This is especially concerning since breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women. Research shows that religious values of modesty are widely reported to deter some Muslims from receiving mammograms, and ideas of modesty might influence women’s reluctance to discuss breast health and breast cancer, even with family or friends, as female anatomy might be considered a taboo topic. That’s why we work with health partners to bring mammogram buses to our center and offer free and private mammograms.
Flu Shots & Vaccinations
If one person is ill within our congregation, this can affect all of our programs and services. To protect everyone, we provide flu shots and vaccination opportunities at MYC.
Health & Wellness Fair
Only a truly holistic and comprehensive effort can address the public health disparities in our community. So we invite health and wellness professionals, government agencies, and organizations to our center for an interactive health fair to provide comprehensive public health education, resources, and support so we can thrive as a healthy and strong Muslim community.
Public Health
Presentations
We partner with doctors, healthcare professionals, and medical organizations to provide vital education to our community at MYC. We also bring in Muslim professionals who can speak to our community in their native language(s).
ECONOMIC & FOOD INSECURITY
Many in our community struggle to afford the basic necessities of life, including sustenance. According to a recent report, over 1.8 million New Yorkers are food insecure. Furthermore, only 38% of food pantries out of 75 across the city supply halal food. MAS believes that every community should have access to healthy and sustainable meals for their families. That’s why we have a series of programs throughout the year that aim to tackle food and economic insecurity.
Many Meals Food Pantry
MAS NY’s Many Meals is the first citywide food pantry run by an Islamic organization in New York. Our pantry feeds thousands of people every year. This is just a drop in the ocean and there is a lot of work to do, but we’re ready to take on the task! Check out our food pantry and food distribution flyers above!
We work with local food organizations to collect fresh produce and grains to distribute to families in need. Every week, we distribute bags filled with sustenance to over 70 families.
Fresh Food Distribution
Udhiyah Distribution
Every Eid-Al-Adha, we partner with relief organizations to distribute hundreds of pounds of udhiyah meat to families in need in our community.
Turkey Distribution
Every November, we work with Islamic Relief to distribute pre-cooked whole turkeys to the community.
Back To Class With MAS
Every year for the last decade, our youth have given out over 1,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to youth in need in South Brooklyn. Working with partners and local elected officials, our annual Back to Class with MAS takes place right before the school year begins, and includes fun activities for both parents and children.
ENVIRONMENT
There are numerous ahadith and ayahs about the Muslims’ duty to take care of this Earth and protect it. Here are some of our programs aimed at protecting our environment.
The best act of dawah is through action. To ensure that our center is always a blessing rather than a burden to our neighbors and the environment, we organize community cleanups led by our youth to clean up the surrounding area around our center, including after storms, blizzards, and parades.
Community Cleanups
Plant A Tree
Anas ibn Malik reported that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “If a Muslim plants a tree or sows seeds, and then a bird, or a person or an animal eats from it, it is regarded as a charitable gift (sadaqah) for him.” (Bukhari). In that spirit, our Plant a Tree program encourages our youth to take part in planting trees in Brooklyn as an act of continuous charity, environmental protection, and community growth.
