Alexandria, Va. –Islamic Relief USA, a non-profit humanitarian and advocacy organization, has awarded a total of $200,000 in grants to 11 organizations throughout the country to help feed kids this summer, as part of the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Summer Food Service Program. Many children had already become used to the grab-and-go lunches that were distributed in the latter part of the school year, when schools shut down due to the novel coronavirus and students had to learn remotely. Fortunately, with the grants provided by Islamic Relief USA, children under the age of 18 who come from low-income households that qualify for free or reduced-price lunch will continue to those nutritious mid-day meals during their summer breaks, thanks to summer lunch programs that are being provided by various organizations, houses of worship, and other entities.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Rising levels of hunger in Yemen, fueled by a deepening currency collapse and massive donor funding shortfalls, have prompted Islamic Relief organizations to inject millions in emergency funding into the war-ravaged country, where the 27 percent death rate for those testing positive for COVID-19 is among the highest in the world. Islamic Relief USA and its partner organization, Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW), will provide $10 million to provide food, water, sanitation and hygiene projects (WASH), as well as nutrition and health programs. This initiative will attempt to plug a small part of the massive funding gaps after the United Nations fundraising goal of $2.4 billion was unmet. Only half of this amount was pledged, with three-quarters of U.N.-backed programs facing cuts or closures in the coming weeks.

Have donors lost hope? We know it's been decades of hurt, pain, poverty, suffering for our sisters and brothers there, and a donation may seem small in light of everything. But it's not! A donation can mean a world of difference for a sister or brother in need, like you saw in the video above from Qabalan, Palestine. Because of a donor like YOU, who made the choice to give, this sister was able to get a bread business—the main livelihood for her family—up, running, and thriving (her video is a must-watch)!

NORWICH, N.Y., Feb. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Chobani today announced that VICE debuted a new documentary called "Moving Humanity Forward," a film focused on Chobani founder and CEO Hamdi Ulukaya's "anti-CEO" playbook, his people-first business philosophy and refugee advocacy work, and the food maker's efforts to rebuild an upstate New York community. Directed by Nirit Peled, "Moving Humanity Forward" debuted on VICE and VICETV.com on Monday, February 15. The documentary follows the lives of refugees who live in the Utica, New York region and are employed by Chobani, showcasing the positive impact refugee integration in society has on business and communities. The film's heart can be summarized by Ulukaya's belief that "the minute you get a job, that's the minute you stop being a refugee."