2019 Was Another Year of Growth & Remarkable Services At MY Project USA
Together We Served 38,000 clients Through 10 Different Programs in 2019
Thank You For Your Continued Support & Generosity
Dear Community,
As we wrap up the year 2019, our hearts are full and our minds are awed by the generosity of our community and the accomplishments we have made this year. Serving about 38,000 people through ten different initiatives is not a small thing for an organization that is mostly run by volunteers. From feeding people to helping their families getting back on their feet after a crises, we have accomplished a lot. All praise is due to Allah, and after Him, we thank you, our donors, volunteers, collaborators and friends. We couldn't have done it without you. Thank You!!!
While celebrating our achievements and thanking everyone for their contributions, our eyes are still on the work that is still not being done. MY Project USA had set Nine Strategic Goals from the very beginning. We have met some of them partially at this point, but we still have to go a long way in Protecting and Empowering Our Youth and Families.
Currently, we are working on turning our used clothes and shoes container business, MY Deah's Warehouse, into profitable business to support all operations and initiatives of the organization. This initiative is our road to self sufficiency and is a mean to provide job training and employment to many refugees, former felons and others who need jobs to live a dignified life.
Secondly, we are working on a new project in the Wedgewood community. We have secured a house in that neighborhood to offer several services to youth and their families for free. We are tentatively calling it Wedgewood Youth Resource Center. Please see the details below in this newsletter and let us know how would you like to make it a part of your legacy.
We hope to continue serving our community in partnership with you and those who will yet have to join us in 2020 and beyond. Please consider sending your End of Year Donations to us. We are still short of $12,265 of our End of Year Fundraising Goal. You can chip on Facebook, online or via mail.
Watch the full speech by Zerqa Abid and Jon Galasso at 44:45
MY Family Pantry Updates
Teen After Teen Was Recognized BY The Columbus City Council - This Is How We Empower Our Youth
MY Family Pantry is a Gift of Muslims and Refugees To The City Of Columbus - Zerqa Abid Told The City Council
Thanks to Councilmember Priscilla Tyson and President Pro Tem Elizabeth Brown, our amazing volunteers of MY Family Pantry were honored and recognized at the City Hall on November 16, 2019. Here is an excellent news coverage by Hailey Nelson of WSYX ABC 6 News.
Please also watch the video above full speeches of our Founder and Executive Director, Zerqa Abid and our new Pantry Director, Jon Galasso at the Columbus City Council meeting.
Congratulations to all past and present volunteers, directors, donors and founding members of MY Family Pantry. May Allah SWT accept it from all of us. Ameen.
A Game Zone & Resource Center For Youth In Wedgewood Neighborhood
Great Opportunity For Adults & Youth Volunteers Collaborators & Sponsors Are Welcome
We have an exciting news and a great opportunity for those of you who want to make real difference in the lives of others.
MY Project USA has secured a house in the Wedgewood neighborhood. We want to use it to offer youth and adult education to the neighbors. We will use it as a Youth Development/Resource Center. We will offer our reading program, ESL classes and several other safe, healthy activities to youth and adults in the neighborhood at this house. We will have free laundry available for youths in our program. We will also have healthy nutritious food available for children in need. Some areas will be set as game zone so the kids could come in the evening or during school break to hang out. Students suspended from the school would be welcomed to stay here in the day time. The programs will be free for all. Monetary donations will be encouraged when deemed okay.
This is a much needed initiative and we believe that it will transform the neighborhood towards more stable and safe neighborhood for all. There is no other recreational facility at the walking distance for the youths and schools are not able to cover these services as well. There are at least 2000 children in just Wedgewood apartments, mostly from Somali Bantu tribe. They are among the kids at high risk of drugs, gangs or being trafficked in Columbus.
We are right now working on the zoning and ADA compliance. We are planning to have a breakfast/open house for neighbors in the second week of Jan. We hope to create a committee to supervise the programs at the house. We will try to recruit 2-3 neighbors in this committee to make sure that their concerns are addressed in a timely manner.
We are right now looking for a volunteer director, co-director and other volunteer committee members for this initiative. If you or anyone you know (brother or sister) is interested in joining our core advisory or operational teams for this initiative please let us know ASAP. We are hoping to have our first informative session for this project on January 4th at the house.
Last but not least, we are looking for sponsors and donations for this project. Businesses and organizations are more than welcome to join hands with us in protecting and empowering youth through this initiative.
If you are interested, please contact Sr. Zerqa Abid at info@myprojectusa.org
MY Deah's Store New Drop Off Locations & Winter Hours
10 Locations In Columbus & 2 Locations in Dayton To Drop Off Donations - Truck Pick Up Available For Large Donations
You can now drop off your donations of new and gently used clothes, shoes books, toys and other small non-breakable items in a donation box near you. These location Include:
Noor Islamic Cultural Center - 5001 Wilcox Rd. Dublin 43016 Masjid Omar Ibn El-Khattab - 580 Riverview Dr, Columbus, OH 43202 Masjid Nimrah - 4501 Refugee Rd, Columbus, OH 43232 MAS Youth Center - 4615 Northtowne Blvd, Columbus, OH. 43229 Turkish American Society of Ohio (TASO) - 2885 W Dublin Granville Rd, Columbus, OH 43235 Ahlul Bayt Society - 2580 W Dublin Granville Rd, Columbus, OH 43235 The First Congregational Church - 444 E Broad St, Columbus, OH 43215 Quick & Easy Mart - 4197 Cleveland Ave. Columbus MY Deah's Store - 3036 Sullivant Ave., Columbus, OH 43204 - During Business Hours Only MY Deah's Warehouse - 4004 Fondorf Dr. Columbus, OH 43228 Dayton Mercy Society - 2277 Maue Rd, Miamisburg, OH 45342 Osman Gazi Mosque - 1508 Valley St, Dayton, OH 45404
We are looking for more locations. If interested in helping us or have any other question, please contact us at info@myprojectusa.org.
MY DEAH'S WINTER HOURS (NOV.EMBER - FEBRUARY) MWF 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
