A recent article in the Richmond Times-Dispatch highlighted how local Muslims and Christians worked together to address homelessness. Several of our community members were interviewed and quoted. Below is a quote from the article:

And for seven or eight years, on Christmas, Virginia Muslim Coalition volunteers pitch in to help feed the church’s guests.

It is a relationship that grew from the days after the Sept. 11 attacks, when a group from Bon Air United Methodist, candles and flowers in hand, walked down Buford Road to gather round the nearby Islamic Center of Virginia with a message of support and friendship. It was a relationship enhanced when the center’s imam came and preached soon after, with members of his congregation along to hand out roses to their Methodist neighbors.

“Giving to others is part of all faiths,” said Imad Damaj, a Virginia Commonwealth University pharmacology professor who organizes volunteers from the Muslim coalition. “We all belong to the same community, the Richmond regional community.”

Caritas Dinner at Holy Comforter Church:
The VMCPA partnership with Holy Comforter Church Church on 4819 Monument Avenue, Richmond VA  is sponsoring a dinner for almost 40 Homeless people on December 17 at 6:00 till 7:30 pm. We will need 3-5 adult volunteers.  We are also looking for some donations for the dinner to cover the cost.

Caritas Dinner at Bon Air United Methodist Church:
The VMCPA partnership with Bon Air United Methodist on 1645 Buford Road, Richmond VA  is sponsoring a dinner for almost 50 Homeless people on December 25 at 5:30 till 7:30 pm. We will need 3-5 adult volunteers.  We are also looking for some donations for the dinner to cover the cost.

PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE FOR FEEDING THE HOMELESS DINNERS.  Your Donations are tax-exempt.

PLEASE SEND YOUR CHECKS AT:
Virginia Muslim Coalition
P.O. BOX 74623
Richmond VA 23236.

Several of our fellow faith leaders came together to express some concerns to Governor-Elect Bob McDonnell regarding his refusal to personally reject the comments made by Rev. Pat Robertson. Below is an op/ed published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

An Open Letter to Virginia Governor-Elect Robert F. McDonnell: Words Matter

Dear Governor-Elect McDonnell:

Last week in response to the shootings at Fort Hood, Texas, Rev. Pat Robertson asserted that Islam is “not a religion” but a “violent political system” and that those who practice it should be treated like members of a communist or fascist party.

The vast majority of Muslims in America and in Virginia do not support the actions of the shooter at Fort Hood.   As with the rest of America, they find the shootings to be absolutely horrifying and were extremely disappointed in the fact that someone would even try to use their religion to justify such an act of treason and criminal behavior.   Many Mosques and organizations in Virginia immediately issued statements condemning this criminal act.

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