Serving Hot Meals at the Sophia Way (Nov. 16, 2018)
MAPS-MCRC served hot meals at the Sophia Way. After serving, volunteers also sat down and shared a meal with the guests. On learning that the MCRC volunteers that day--Sr. Sherwette and her daughter Lena--were Egyptian, many of the Sophia Way clients expressed interest in learning about the food and culture of Egypt. One of the clients mentioned during the conversation that her boyfriend was from Egypt. They all loved the food and were very appreciative of the help that MAPS-MCRC was providing.
Thanksgiving Eve Dinner (Nov. 21, 2018)
On the eve of Thanksgiving, MAPS-MCRC served a traditional Thanksgiving meal at the Muslim Association of Puget Sound. Over 300 people attended the event. This event was open for the homeless or anyone living alone who wished to share a meal with others. We also took this opportunity to acknowledge and say thank you to the many partners of MAPS-MCRC who worked with us through the year to serve those in need.
We had great participation from several faith organizations such as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, East Shore Unitarian Church, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Seattle, Medina Academy, etc. who joined us to help in various ways with the event.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated blankets that were given away at the end of the evening. Students from Medina Academy tied ribbons to each blanket and wrote personal note cards that were attached to each blanket. Our guests were very appreciative of these blankets. Several of these blankets were also collected and donated to other shelters.
Pictures of the event are uploaded on our Flickr page.
Serving Meals at the Friends of Youth Shelter (Nov. 22, 2018)
The Friends of Youth shelter is located in Redmond. It provides a warm and safe space for homeless teenagers and youth who have no place to go.
On Thanksgiving Day, MAPS-MCRC brought a traditional Thanksgiving meal to the Youth Shelter. The youth at the shelter were overjoyed with the meal that we served them. They said they had been looking forward to this meal the whole day. We are blessed to have been able to bring some joy in their lives.
The Golden Times (Dec. 10, 2018)
Senior Women from different countries, all dressed up in colorful traditional dresses and beautiful accessories came together at the Muslim Association of Puget Sound to attend MAPS-MCRC's Golden Times event (a monthly event hosted for senior women of all faiths).
The theme for the month of December was "cultural diversity.” The event started with a prayer of gratitude by a member of the Golden Times team. Afterward, our seniors shared their valuable wisdom on how trusting in God helped them deal with the unpredictable nature of the world.
The highlight of the event was the catwalk by the seniors. They eagerly showed off their gorgeous sarees, embroidered shalwar kameez, handmade Iraqi dresses, knitted Mexican cardigans, stone studded rings, and gleaming gold bangles and intricate necklaces.
The excited seniors also played a game of bowling, knocking the bowling pins off the table in just two turns and won prizes for their successes.
The event concluded with a delicious multicultural potluck lunch lovingly prepared by the seniors themselves.
Recounting one of her experiences, one of the seniors quoted a verse in Surah Al-Hujurat in the Holy Quran, mentioning that it helped her learn and experience the culture of others: "O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another.” [The Holy Quran 49:10 - Trans. Sahih International.]
Holiday Meal for the Homeless (Dec. 16, 2018)
Continuing the tradition that was started 5 years ago, MAPS-MCRC hosted a Christmas Holiday gathering in South Seattle. The number of attendees at this event has grown steadily over the years. Our guests really look forward to the meal that we provide each year. At this recent event, MAPS-MCRC provided meals to over 150 people.
This event is like a mini-reunion each year. We get to meet and interact with many familiar faces. It is heartwarming to see the joy and the warmth in those who have little but who like to share whatever they have with others.
This year we had a young new group of volunteers who came for the first time to serve with MAPS-MCRC and help with this event. They thoroughly enjoyed the experience and were very grateful for the opportunity to mingle with those that they were serving.
Pictures from the event are uploaded on our Flickr page.
Christmas Day Lunch for the Homeless in Seattle (Dec. 25, 2018)
MAPS-MCRC joined other faith organizations to serve lunch to the homeless on Christmas Day in West Seattle. Standing shoulder to shoulder with volunteers from other churches and synagogues, the MAPS-MCRC volunteers served as a shining example of Islamic faith values and in their own small way, built bridges of compassion and understanding with the people that they were serving throughout the afternoon.
The deep appreciation and gratitude that the people we were serving was a truly humbling experience.
Pictures are uploaded on our Flickr page.
Serving Hot Meals at the Men's Shelter in Bellevue (Jan. 10, 2018)
We thank Café Bollywood in Bellevue for generously donating food for the men’s shelter. Volunteers from MAPS-MCRC served over 80 men at the winter shelter in Bellevue.
Serving Hot Meals at the Sophia Way (Jan. 16, 2018)
On the evening of January 16th, a group of friends on behalf of MAPS-MCRC served hot meals at the Sophia Way Shelter for Women, where a table conversation with a young woman—Patience—was shared.
The conversation started after Patience complimented one of the friend's (Nickhath – Nicky- Sheriff) hijab, which Nicky later explained was from one of her Indian outfits. The talk was short, yet powerful, going in depth about how much she loved ethnic outfits.
A few days later, Nicky went back to the shelter, bringing her a few Indian outfits. She described the reaction of Patience to be “priceless and radiating with joy.” Going to shelters is so much more than the act of simply serving meals—it’s an opportunity for the community to build a connection and spark conversations with others.
Such a simple act of love led to a moment that will forever be cherished.
Pictures are uploaded on our Flickr page.
Serving Federal Employees at SeaTac Airport (Jan. 28, 2019)
 
On Monday, January 28th, we had the privilege of sharing a meal with Federal employees at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Every day, hundreds of TSA agents, Customs & Border protection officers, and air traffic controllers do their duty diligently and keep the many thousand travelers who pass through the airport safe on their journeys.
During the longest U.S. government shutdown in history, these federal workers worked tirelessly without pay to keep our airport running. Despite the temporary lifting of the shutdown, many of these workers and their families are still feeling the negative impacts it caused.
To honor the work they do, MAPS-MCRC joined hands with a few other Muslim organizations to serve the employees at the SeaTac airport who were affected by the shutdown. In addition to meals, MAPS-MCRC provided emergency food/gas cards to those who needed support.
The warmth and gratitude of the people we met truly made this a humbling experience. We thank all our federal workers for the work they do every day to keep us safe.
We also thank our incredible community for volunteering and helping out.
A few pictures from the event are posted on our Flickr page.
Columbia Bank's Donation to the MCRC Office (Jan. 29, 2018)
On January 29th, the branch manager from the Redmond Branch of Columbia Bank stopped by at the MCRC office and dropped off new winter clothes and jackets. He had heard about the work of MAPS-MCRC and wanted to help in his own way. We are humbled and grateful for his donation.
Thank You to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Thank you to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for their generous support to MAPS-MCRC. In late December just after Christmas, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provided us with additional funding that allowed us to procure a second 15 passenger van for use of MCRC activities.
In January they also provided us with a generous grant for use towards shelter for single women.
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Making Sandwiches for the Homeless at ICOE (Jan. 18, 2018)
On January 18th, sisters at the Islamic Center of Eastside (Bellevue Mosque) made sandwiches for the homeless. In total, 350 sandwiches were made—175 tuna sandwiches and 175 cheese sandwiches. The sandwiches were distributed at North Helpline in Seattle.
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Expressions of Thanks From MCRC's Clients
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*If you would like to donate to any of the MAPS-MCRC programs, please send an email to admin@mcrcseattle.org.
Hot Meals Service at the Winter Eastside Men's Shelter
MAPS-MCRC will be serving hot meals at the Eastside Men's Shelter. If you would like to volunteer, please contact manager@mcrcseattle.org.
515B 116th Ave NE (at Lincoln Center)
Thursday, February 7, 2019 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
The Golden Times for Senior Women
A morning of social connection and fun activities for senior women. A light lunch will also be served. This is a free event open to women of all faiths and cultures. If you would like to attend this event, please register here.
*Women Only Event
Muslim Association of Puget Sound
Monday, February 11, 2019 10:30 am – 1:00 pm
Hot Meals Service at the Sophia Way Shelter for Women
MAPS-MCRC will be serving hot meals at the Sophia Way Shelter for Women. If you would like to volunteer, please contact manager@mcrcseattle.org.
Sophia’s Place, behind the St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 3032 Bellevue Way NE Bellevue, WA
Thursday, February 14, 2019 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Free Medical Clinic
General primary care (adults and children), cardiology/pulmonary care, endocrinology, and chiropractor. To schedule an appointment please contact mapsmcrcclinic@gmail.com with patient's full name, date of birth, specific reason for appointment, and preferred appointment time.
Muslim Association of Puget Sound
Sunday, February 17, 2019 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Hot Meals Service at the Tent City 4 Shelter
MAPS-MCRC will be serving hot meals at the Tent City 4 shelter. If you would like to volunteer, please contact manager@mcrcseattle.org.
15727 NE 4th St, Bellevue, WA
Monday, February 18, 2019 5:30 am – 6:00 pm
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The Muslim Community Resource Center is a service organization led and managed by a group of volunteers passionate about helping the less fortunate in our community. We are a non-profit organization established in 2010 that provides a common platform for Muslim community service engagement. We partner with similar faith based organizations (Muslim & non-Muslim), cities & local services, and assistance providers to serve community needs. Our focus is to connect those in need with relevant resources and service providers in our community.
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