Humanitarian Day Downtown Los Angeles

On Sunday September 12, 2009 in Downtown Los Angeles, the homeless capital of America, during the last 10 days of Ramadan; there was something different about to happen. Aside of Skid Row’s normal events of organizations and smaller groups serving a population in need, the people started recognizing the annual transformation of Towne Avenue saying, “the Muslims are back!”; and began watching a small band of believers and its inter-faith family known together as The Coalition to Preserve Human Dignity (CPHD) began setting the stage for an obligated effort of contributions, to address a domestic issue affecting nearly 600,000 (endhomeless.org) displaced Americans.

The 9th Annual Humanitarian Day (H-Day) founded by the ILM Foundation in 2001; opened a distribution line of hot meals and water, new socks, hygiene kits, medical screenings and more. After the 9/11 attack the United States’ Muslim community needed to counteract the misleading statements about Al Islam as well as the press character assassinations of Muslims which subsequently created Islamic phobia. Founder of the ILM Foundation Imam Saadiq Saafir clearly stated, “We do not need to say anything, but we need to do something; by putting faith into action.” Since 2001 Humanitarian Day has served 60,000 people in over 21 American cities which include Washington DC, New York, New Orleans and at least four African countries.

Executive Director Naim Shah Jr., CPA said, “Preserving human dignity is our main purpose and a birth right, informing society of this domestic illness should hopefully stimulate more activities in assisting our local governments with homelessness.” It was important for the CPHD to cultivate California - from Los Angeles to Oakland with H-Day events, collectively serving nearly 2500 people; 1200 recipients in Los Angeles alone.

It’s an honor to have joined President Obama’s initiative “United We Serve”. Since before 2001, the Coalition to Preserve Human Dignity are volunteers, organizations and institutions who share resources to collectively plan Humanitarian Day Projects. During the month of Ramadan, it is an obligation upon Muslims to serve mankind with charity while fasting from the fulfillment of food and water. As mentioned on Los Angeles local ABC7 News by Jojo a H-Day recipient said, “These people are special.”