View this email in your browser ([link removed])


** RESPONDING TO OUR COMMUNITIES' NEEDS

------------------------------------------------------------

First of all, the deepest gratitude to you for your generous donation to MCN's campaign to help support the families who have been affected by the tragic Bronx apartment building fire. To date, we've raised over $240,000! This is the power of community, Alhamdulillah!

This event has shaken us all. It also brings about the painful reminder of the inequities in which we live that have caused this terrible situation. I share with you a poem written by our Program Manager, and leader in her respective Gambian community, Ms. Kujegi Camara

MCN and grassroots community partners, such as the Gambian Youth Organization, ICNA Relief, interfaith partners, and more continue to advocate for the needs of the families. I want to take a moment to update you on what we're doing on the ground to help the families of the victims. MCN has three team members who are working directly with families, currently stationed at Monroe College.

Ms. Ajifanta Marenah, our Advocacy Coordinator, Ms. Kujegi Camara, Program Manager, and Ms. Adamah Bah, our Immigrant Rights Coordinator, have served as bridges between the families (who overwhelmingly are from the West African/ Gambian community) and city agencies in helping provide translations and connecting them to the right resources. All the while, they are advocating for the city to provide long-term housing solutions -- as the families do not wish to return to that building -- and access to public benefits and immigration services.

Our team has assessed the needs of the families and we've come up with a plan to distribute the generous donations that have come in here. The best means of support right now is through direct cash assistance so that families can pay for short-term housing, household items, food, and also the disruption in jobs/incomes due to the loss of housing. We will immediately distribute cash assistance to the family's of the 17 victims who died in the fire. There is an additional 198 individuals (many of whom are undocumented and who are unable to secure a lease due to their legal status) who have been impacted by the fire and are unable to secure safe housing.

We are also going to leverage our volunteers to pack a duffel bag full of supplies and donated clothing etc. to give out to families in the coming weeks.

THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts for supporting our community in this time of need. Thank you for trusting MCN with your generous donations.

We will continue to keep you posted.

Please continue to Donate ([link removed]) to our LAUNCHGOOD Campaign which will help us fight for housing justice and mental well-being of the affected community members, and as always, donating to MCN allows us to continue be a responsive community organization!

With Gratitude,

Aniqa Nawabi
Executive Director
DONATE TO MCN ([link removed])

============================================================

** ([link removed])
This video was taken in the days right after the fire. Currently, the resource center at Monroe College has closed and families are now receiving their aid and information from the Gambian Youth Organization and the Islamic Cultural Center in the Bronx.

UPCOMING EVENTS
** REGISTER HERE ([link removed])
** SIGN UP HERE ([link removed])
** REGISTER HERE ([link removed])
** Twitter ([link removed])
** Facebook ([link removed])
** Website ([link removed])
Copyright © 2022 Muslim Community Network, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you signed up for our email list, requested to be placed on it, or attended one of our events. Occasionally we send updates on upcoming events, community service opportunities, and issues of interest and importance to the NYC Muslim community and its allies. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you may unsubscribe at any time.

Our mailing address is:
Muslim Community Network
110 Wall Street
3rd Fl.
New York, New York 10005
USA
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can ** update your preferences ([link removed])
or ** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
.