Valley religious groups, for a second year, will team with the national Islamic Relief Foundation on Sept. 7 for a Day of Dignity to help an estimated 2,000 homeless people in the Valley. The Cultural Cup Food Bank in Phoenix, a nonprofit group specializing in providing food boxes for those with dietary restrictions, is sponsoring the event 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Watkins Overflow Shelter, 1120 W. Watkins St., Phoenix.
Pre-event activities will be 6 p.m. Sept. 5 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 6 at the Human Services Campus, 1125 W. Jackson St., Phoenix.
"Day of Dignity is a day for volunteers to come together to provide clothing, hygiene items, toys, food and health screenings to those in need," said Zarinah Awad, director of the food bank. "It brings people from different faiths and backgrounds together in a common effort to relieve the suffering of those in need." She called it a "cause that everyone can agree on."
Unity Church of Phoenix and other groups will sponsor live music, karaoke, open-mike poetry, mural making, the handing out of survival kits, a health and hygiene fair, wellness checks, social services connections, voter registration, a barbecue and many kinds of food.
Day of Dignity will take place in 19 U.S. cities that day, targeting 25,000 homeless people as part of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
"Ramadan is a month of giving and compassion," Awad said, "and during this month, Muslims fast from dawn until sunset."
On Sept. 7, Muslim volunteers will go all day without food or water while handing out lunches to people who experience severe hunger on a regular basis, she said.
For more information, call the food bank, (602) 570-9549 or visit www.culturalcup.com.
