Our November Event!!

Asalaamu Alaikum everyone,
We're so happy to extend to you the exciting opportunity to come out to our November event and give something which is in you to give: blood.
For our November event we will be volunteering at the Blood Donor Clinic on Wednesday Nov. 21st from 5:10-5:50pm. It is a small event but one with big rewards inshallah! Spaces are very limited due to our time so please sign up early.
There are a few things to keep in mind for this special event:
a) You must at least 17 years old
b) You must weigh at least 110 lbs
c) You must bring a photo ID with you
d) And most importantly in order to give, you must be in good health, well rested and please make sure you've eaten something the day of the donation.
We know that new experiences can be daunting sometimes but we encourage you to come out and see how simple and easy this whole process really is (plus there's cookies and juice when you're done!)
Please email us back at mygottawa@gmail.com in order to secure your spot!

Jazakum Allahu Khairun,
MAC Give Committee

Snowsuits for one and all!

Once again the MAC Give Committee would like to thank our WONDERFUL volunteers for coming out and sharing in another successful event!
The Snowsuit Fund allowed our volunteers to participate in handing out snowsuits to many of our neighbors who are not able to afford to buy ones sold at our local malls. The sadness of this situation is only intensified by the fact that some of us may not realize the money constraints that many face and how debilitating this can be for many families. Participating in events like these help us as Muslims, as citizens of the world, as humanitarians understand that our duties in helping others are not limited to one event per month but rather span every moment of every day--because small opportunities to help others surround us everyday.
Alhamdulillah we had so many warm hearts sign up for this event that we were unable to accommodate everyone however please don't be discouraged if we weren't able to accept your kind offer for help this time around, as we have a volunteer event every month inshallah. Continue to check back here for more details or feel free to email us at: mygottawa@gmail.com, we love hearing from you!!
May Allah reward everyone for all their hard work.

Sincerely,
MAC Give Committee

MAC Give's October Event!

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The believer's shade on the Day of Resurrection will be his charity." - Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 604

The Snowsuit Fund is an Ottawa-based charity that raises funds for the purchase and distribution of snowsuits to needy children, 15 years of age and under, within the community.
The fund cannot run without the generosity of the community--from money donations to the volunteers who work to distribute the snowsuits. For our October event, we are looking for volunteers to help distribute the hundreds of snowsuits in their warehouse to those in need.

WHEN: Saturday, October 27, 2007 at 9:00am – 12:00pm
WHERE: 225 Donald St. – the Snowsuit Fund Warehouse and Distribution Centre
WHAT: Volunteers will be working in pairs to serve and distribute snowsuits to families and children in need.

Please sign up by Friday, October 19, 2007 by e-mailing your full name, e-mail address and phone number at mygottawa@gmail.com
This is one of the most rewarding experiences to give back to your local community for the sake of Allah. The families and children are very grateful for your support.

Jazakum Allah Khairan,
MAC Give Committee

Another successful event

MAC Give would like to give a BIG thanks to all those who participated in our September event, The Terry Fox Run. A perfect fall day shone upon us and the hundreds of participants who ran, walked, biked and roller-bladed through the 10km course. Official numbers for fund raising have yet to be finalized however in all MAC Give events it's inspiring just to see people come out and give of their time and of themselves.
Good work team! We hope to see you all at our next event...details coming soon!!

Our September Event is here!!!

Asalaamu Alaikum everyone,
How often have you looked at the world around you and wished you could positively impact it?
This month we are remembering the courageous efforts of one and celebrating it with many all across the country. MYG is happy to participate in this years Terry Fox Run on Sunday September 16th.
For those who aren't familiar with Terry's story, he was diagnosed with bone cancer and forced to have his right leg amputated. While in hospital, Terry was so overcome by the suffering of other cancer patients that he decided to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. On September 1st, after 143 days and 5,373 kilometres, Terry was forced to stop running outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario because cancer had appeared in his lungs. An entire nation was stunned and saddened. Terry passed away on June 28, 1981 at age 22. But his Marathon of Hope continues today and it can only do so with your help.
Please email us at mygottawa@gmail.com to participate in this very special event.

What: Terry Fox Run
When: Sunday September 16, 2007
Where: Carleton University
Time: 10:45am-3pm

Our September Event is here!!!

How often have you looked at the world around you and wished you could positively impact it?
This month we are remembering the courageous efforts of one and celebrating it with many all across the country. MYG is happy to participate in this years Terry Fox Run on Sunday September 16th.
For those who aren't familiar with Terry's story, he was diagnosed with bone cancer and forced to have his right leg amputated. While in hospital, Terry was so overcome by the suffering of other cancer patients that he decided to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. On September 1st, after 143 days and 5,373 kilometres, Terry was forced to stop running outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario because cancer had appeared in his lungs. An entire nation was stunned and saddened. Terry passed away on June 28, 1981 at age 22. But his Marathon of Hope continues today and it can only do so with your help.
Please email us at mygottawa@gmail.com to participate in this very special event.

What: Terry Fox Run
When: Sunday September 16, 2007
Where: Carleton University
Time: 10:45am-3pm

Looking Back at our August Event

The Rona MS Bike Tour took place last weekend and the Ottawa to Kemptville tour boasted over 580 participants and a record number of Teams! Thanks to everyone who fundraised, volunteered and cycled...that means you MYG participants!!!
As a result of participation and fundraising efforts, the Tour raised an incredible:
$325 000!

Your dedication to fundraising brings the MS Society closer to its mission: To be a leader in finding a cure for multiple sclerosis and enabling those affected by MS to enhance their quality of life.

Looking Back at our August Event

The Rona MS Bike Tour took place last weekend and the Ottawa to Kemptville tour boasted over 580 participants and a record number of Teams! Thanks to everyone who fundraised, volunteered and cycled...that means you MYG participants!!!
As a result of participation and fundraising efforts, the Tour raised an incredible:

$325 000!

Your dedication to fundraising brings the MS Society closer to its mission: To be a leader in finding a cure for multiple sclerosis and enabling those affected by MS to enhance their quality of life.

MYG's August Event!!

"The best people are those who are most useful to others."
Prophet Mohammad

Asalaamu Alaikum,
MYG is excited to announce our participation in this year's RONA MS Bike Tour. Over 10,000 cyclists are expected to participate in the 22 one and two-day bike tours taking place across Canada. As you can imagine such a big and important event needs a lot of extra hands to allow the event to achieve success.

Multiple Sclerosis is most often diagnosed in young adults, aged 15 to 40, but it can also affect children, some as young as two years old. Its effects are physical, emotional, financial, and last a lifetime. There is no cure however we hope you'll be with us on August 11th to help the MS Society in their quest for one. Please email us back at this address if you're interested in helping out: mygottawa@gmail.com

Jazak Allahu Khairun,
MYG Committee


Who: MS Society of Canada
What: Rona MS Bike Tour
Where: Carleton University
When: August 11th from 6:30-9:30am

Blood Donor Clinic

On March 29, 2007, a group of nine Muslim Ottawan’s took a short part of their days to donate blood at the Canadian Blood Services Blood Donor Clinic at 1575 Carling Ave. This brave bunch consisted of both first time donors and those who have made it part of their charitable nature to give blood again and again.

With their time slots booked, the MAC Youth Give volunteers showed up between 5:00 to 7:00pm eager to partake in this very noble deed. The friendly and professional staff at the clinic took the first time donors through a rigorous and quick screening process that helps to ensure the safety of Canada’s blood supply.

In Canada, roughly 137,000 people are diagnosed with cancer every year. Cancer patients often need blood or blood products to survive their treatments. We also know that the number of transplants has increased steadily from 16 per one million Canadians in 1981 to 59 per one million Canadians in 2000. This includes kidney, liver, pancreas, heart, lung and bowel transplants – all of which are lengthy procedures requiring significant amounts of blood. As you can see, the need for blood and blood products is rapidly rising.

We are told in the Glorious Quran that, “Whoever saves the life of a single person, it is as if he has saved the life of all (of humanity)” (Al-Ma'idah 5:32). Take these volunteers as an example and set aside a short period of your day to donate blood; you too could be helping to save a life.

So if you can stand a slight prick in the arm, and you like donuts, cookies and juice, call Canadian Blood Services at 1 888 2 DONATE, (1-888-236-6283) and set up your own personal time to give.

The Ottawa Food Bank

On Saturday, February 24th, 2007, a group of 15 Muslim youth volunteered at the Ottawa Food Bank as part of an event organized by Ottawa MAC Youth Give. This group of energetic young men and women decided to give back to their local community and to take action against hunger by volunteering two hours of their weekend to help sort food donations at the Food Bank.

Around 40,000 Ottawa residents go to food banks each month, 16,000 of whom are children. There are 112 local agencies in the Ottawa area that provide food for those in need with the help of the Ottawa Food Bank. As citizens of this great country, and as Muslims, we cannot simply watch this happen and do nothing.

The Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) said: "He has not affirmed faith in me (i.e. he is not a true follower) who eats to his satisfaction and sleeps comfortably at night while his neighbor goes hungry - and he is aware of it."

Ottawa MAC Youth Give plans on continuing to help out at the Ottawa Food Bank, and we encourage everyone to help out, whether it is through donations or volunteering.

For more information about the Ottawa Food Bank please visit the following web site: Ottawa Food Bank

Walk for Memories - Unforgettable!

On Sunday, January 28th, 2007 the MAC Youth Give Committee participated in the Alzheimer Society in Ottawa "Walk for Memories: Unforgettable" event held at Carlingwood Mall. The event included activities for the entire family and all proceeds went towards supporting the society’s services within Ottawa.

About 10 Muslim youth volunteers participated in this event and gained experience in set up, running and clean up of the event. Volunteers were given souvenir t-shirts and warmly thanked for their contribution.

Alzheimer disease affects 1 in 13 Canadians over the age of 65. Two thirds of those affected are women. Over 52% of Canadians know someone with Alzheimer disease, and almost 25% of us have someone in our family who is affected by this disease.




It is through participating in events such as the Walk for Memories that we, as Muslim, can not only give back and be involved in our local community, but that was can extend the voice of Islam in being compassionate and giving cherish in every way that we can.

Shepherds of Good Hope

In The Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Gracious

Muslim youth exemplified the roots of Islam in charitably giving back to their Ottawa community. MAC Youth Give volunteers showed up early Saturday morning on December 5th, 2006 to help the Shepherds of Good Hope prepare and serve warm meals to Ottawa’s neediest.

The group of six volunteers, assisted by the generous staff of the Shepherds of Good Hope worked throughout the morning to prepare the meals. Volunteers chopped vegetables, made soup and sandwiches and arranged deserts that were then served.

At 12:00pm the centre’s doors opened and the clients filed in. Just an hour and a half later, when the doors had closed, the Shepherds of Good Hope along with the help of MAC Youth Give had served over 350 impoverished people a wholesome lunch.

This volunteer event only took a few hours but brought the perspective that even a few voluntary hours could make a significant and positive difference in other’s life. As MAC Youth Give strongly upholds the representation of the Great Deen of Islam and follows Prophet Mohammad PBUH, his dedicated companions leadership and with the help of Allah SWT Muslim youth can help support and spread the message of Islam one volunteer event at a time.

To find out more about volunteer events that MAC Youth Give will be organizing or participating in, please visit us at http://macyouthgive.blogspot.com/

Laila Adassi
MYG Committee Member

Alta Vista Reforestation Project

By: Marwa Ahmed

The Muslim community and the larger Ottawa community were united on Saturday October 15th, 2005, for the Alta Vista Reforestation Project. Despite unpleasant weather conditions, City Councillor Peter Hume's staff, MAC Youth Give, Ottawa’s Horticulturist Association, Hillcrest High School, Immaculata High School, Ridgemont High School and many others showed up to plant trees at the Kilborn Greenspace.

There was rain, mud, fog, and the October chill but spirits were high and nothing impeded this group. The project lasted two hours, beginning at nine in the morning and ending at eleven. Equipped with shovels and gloves this motivated group of roughly sixty volunteers planted approximately 150 trees. Truckload after truckload, volunteers unloaded trees and found them their new homes.

The group was given special thanks by Premier Dalton Mcginty’s brother, David Mcginty, Ottawa South City Councillor. He traded in his spit shine Gordon Rush dress shoes for pro-line rain boots, working side by side with the volunteers from various communities.

The Muslim Association of Canada, MAC, would like to encourage everyone to keep their eyes open for upcoming future events. Charles Lindbergh once asked this question, “How long can men thrive between walls of brick, walking on asphalt pavements, breathing the fumes of coal and of oil, growing, working, [and] dying, with hardly a thought of wind, and sky, and fields of grain, seeing only machine-made beauty, the mineral-like quality of life?” We need to take care of what we have and plant seeds for generations after ours. To find out more about volunteer events that MAC Youth Give will be organizing or participating in, please email us at MACYouthGive-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Remember we are the ambassadors of the great Deen of Islam, following the steps of the Prophet Mohammad PBUH and his dedicated companions. They managed, with Allah SWT's to help, support and spread the message of Islam all over the world. Volunteering may not seem like a big step to spreading Islam, but it certainly is better than no step at all. Let us unite and show everyone what Islam is really about!

Park Cleaning

By: Marwa Ahmed

August 21, 2005 was the first for this season’s volunteer event organized by the “MAC Youth Give” of the Ottawa Division. The Muslim Association Of Canada (MAC) is dedicated to giving back to the community, and that is what they did with great success. A group of volunteers met at Abraar School and traded in their weekend for gloves and garbage bags. At 8 a.m. sharp we began to assemble the park clean-up.

The area around Abraar School gradually became more sanitary and safe for the children in the community. The backfield, which includes a baseball diamond and swimming pool, and the front of the school, which includes the parking lot and basketball court, were left spotless. The area around the Boys ad Girls club was also cleaned.

Prophet Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "Allah is kind and likes kindness in all things." What better kindness is there other than those who help others without wanting anything in return? This just so happens to be the definition of “volunteering”.

MAC Youth Give will be holding events like this throughout the year. Committee members strongly encourage volunteers to show up to these events and lend a helping hand. I end by quoting Alexander the Great. He once said, “There is nothing impossible to him who will try.” If we really want to make this world a better place, then all we have to do is try.

The 5th Annual Youth Day of Caring (YDOC)

By: Raweya Abdulwali

April 23rd, 2005 was sure to be an ominous day for five volunteers from MAC Youth Give. The day was marked by the chilly weather and rain. By the will of Allah (SWT), everything was meant to be.

The day commenced at 9am officially at the Hellenic Community Centre, where all the volunteers, from various divisions of Ottawa, gathered to contribute their time and skills to the 5th Annual Youth Day of Caring held by United Way Ottawa. The project aimed to facilitate community service to the young populace of Ottawa. The volunteers were then divided into their respective groups and driven to the particular locations where they were to volunteer their services.

The MAC Youth Give group was given the opportunity to volunteer at a disabilities residence in Barrhaven. The residence is home or a temporary retreat to persons suffering from a wide array of disabilities. The staff works meticulously and attentively to provide adequate care required by each patient.

Our primary work was to clean the yard, however due to the rain that work could not be done. In lieu of the yard work, cleaning a residence, the pantry, a storage area, and a staircase in the basement was recommended. The group, which consisted of two brothers and three sisters, split up in two to tackle two of the responsibilities each.

We all worked diligently, however if I may write so, I’d say the sisters won this round! Although, much acknowledgement goes out to the brothers, who did manage to finish their work prematurely and, hence, started cleaning an additional area. Doesn’t that make them the winners? No, because I stated so!

What would otherwise seem insignificant to many, we soon discovered that just a little cleaning made an enormous difference in the staff at the residence. The staff was overwhelmingly appreciative of our efforts.

Having done our work untimely, we did manage to play a little trivia while having lunch! Great questions! By the way, the seven groups of people who will be shaded by Allah (SWT) on the Day of Judgment are the just rulers, persons whose youths are spent in the worship of Allah (SWT), men whose hearts are attached to the mosques, two persons who love each other for the sake of Allah (SWT), persons who eschew adultery when they are called towards it, persons who remember Allah (SWT) in seclusion with tear-filled eyes, and, the one that trumped us, persons who practice charity secretly.

We departed the residence at approximately 2:15 in the afternoon towards the Hellenic Community Centre, where we met with our fellow volunteers to mark the end of the day.

It was a tremendously rewarding day for all of us. We banked on many rewards from Allah (SWT) for very little exertions on our part. From having the intentions to help to being there to just sitting on the bus on our way to the residence. InshaAllah, our group will expand for the coming year.