Aside from our religious programming, ICP hosts a number of charitable social programs.
The primary, on-going programs that you will find here are:
1) Our Sadaqah Fund
People who are struggling to pay rent, past-due utility balances, emergency vehicle repairs, and etc. may apply for mini-grants to cover the expenses. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Last year, we distributed over $60,000 to those in need. This year, we have been experiencing a great demand from our Afghani refugees. This demand is expected to continue and increase, especially as refugees exhaust their initial resettlement assistance, which for most families is insufficient to secure a stable life.
2) Food Pantry
Each month ICP, with assistance of volunteers from the University of Pittsburgh (PITT Serves), prepares and distributes boxes of food to qualified families in need. This longstanding program is a partnership between ICP, the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, 412Food Rescue and Salem's Market and Grill.
Addressing hunger and food insecurity is mentioned explicitly multiple times in our tradition:
"(The righteous are those) who, from their own food, feed the poor, the orphan and the prisoner for the love of God, saying: 'We feed you for the sake of God Alone; we seek from you neither reward nor thanks.'" - Quran, 76:8-9
3) Teen and youth programs
Besides Sunday School, ICP hosts social programming for teens. While not restricted to Muslims, these provide much-needed safe space to Islamic youth who are too often persecuted and ostracized for their cultures and beliefs. Teens meet weekly and often adventure out on field trips. Similarly, in partnership with the Universal Academy of Pittsburgh, each summer ICP hosts a summer camp full of fun activities for elementary school-aged youth. Now that the COVID period may be nearing an end, we hope to re-institute an afterschool program as well.