Muslims Donate 24,000 Pounds to Greater Chicago Food Depository

The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago delivered over 24,000 pounds of premium vegetarian-feed ground beef (12 tons) to the Greater Chicago Food Depository today on behalf of the city’s Muslim community. This meat will be distributed to the hungry throughout the Chicagoland area.

Muslims from within Illinois and some from other parts of the country came together on the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha, during late December 2007 and raised the record donation through the third annual Sacrifice For Our Neighbors meat drive. This program was organized and funded by the Council.

During the Eid-ul-Adha holiday, Muslims traditionally distribute shares of meat to the hungry, especially needy family and neighbors. While many choose to donate meat shares overseas, the Sacrifice For Our Neighbors program has offered Muslims the opportunity to fulfill this charitable obligation locally since 2005.

The Council is a federated body representing the cross-section of over 400,000 Muslim Americans in the Greater Chicago area. Its members include the city’s largest mosques and Islamic centers, established smaller mosques, Muslim schools, community service institutions, civil rights groups, and professional associations. The Council was established in 1992.