Earlier this year, leaders from Great America Islamic Center reached out to Love INC for support. They are hosting a number of refugee families through the Afghan Resettlement Project of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC). These families are fleeing danger in their homeland, coming to the U.S. with limited personal items, no jobs, and no savings. Great America Islamic Center is one of a number of organizations helping to provide immediate care for these families and helping to establish stability in their lives.

Part of the challenge for these families is finding adequate housing, both short-term upon their arrival and longer term as they resettle. Great America Islamic Center converted some of the classrooms at their mosque into short-term living quarters for these families. The next step was to furnish them…

Community Connections

Turning to the vast Lake County human services community, they reached out to share their needs, including furnishings for their housing solutions, food and personal care items, and clothing. Our friends at Northern Illinois Food Bank heard the request, thought of Love INC’s furniture ministry, and passed our information along to them. Our Program Manager, Amy, connected with their Interfaith Services Director, Fatima, and plans were made!

In the Words of our Neighbors

We asked Fatima to share what our connection meant to Great America Islamic Center and those families they are helping:

What difference will the help they received make in their lives today?  Our [converted classrooms] supported with your furniture provided a decent living space for the refugees, above and beyond our expectations too.

What message do you want to share with Love INC’s network of churches?  We were overwhelmed with the open arms and heart of Love INC staff to share the resources at the need of the hour. Our struggle to find donors and our prayers were answered with this introduction. [Amy, Gary, and your volunteers] were very welcoming to help our Afghan Resettlement Project.

This was the most unique Interfaith interaction by far between an Islamic Center and Love INC –  supported through a group of churches of Lake County.  With this unity, harmony and interaction of different faiths and communities, the core American values of care and compassion was at full display, sending a joint message of coexistence with peace and tranquility.

We are thankful to Lake County Churches who share their resources with Love INC and your unwavering support in times of need to serve humanity.

Thank you to our partner churches and volunteers for shining the light of Christ to all in our community!