Dayton Mercy Society outreach program aids community

Aisha Khalil has volunteered in the community for many years, but in 2012 when she realized that many members of her mosque, called Dayton Mercy Society, were volunteering, she decided to form the Dayton Mercy Society Outreach Project.

“Instead of our individual volunteer efforts throughout the community, we decided we needed to collaborate and join our efforts to represent the mosque,” said Khalil, a stay-at-home mother of three from Centerville.

Safa Suleiman, another mother of three who lives in Beavercreek, volunteers to help with publicity, while Sameena Ismailjee, of Beavercreek helps to plan the numerous projects that the group is involved with on a monthly basis.

A recent effort featured free tutoring offered to middle school students prior to the Ohio Achievement Assessments. The outreach members plan another free session for students in the fall because of the success of their initial effort.

“It was for any student in the community,” said Khalil, of the tutoring for math and reading. “Our programs are offered to the public regardless of color, or creed. We are a family organization helping others.”

At walkathons organized for charities, the group has distinguished itself for funds raised by earning a bronze medal at the 2012 Walk MS for multiple sclerosis, a 1st place gold medal for the April 2013 Autism Society of Dayton’s 5K Walk/Run For Autism in Moraine and ranked in the top three teams at the St. Vincent de Paul’s Friends of the Poor Walk.

“July is Ramadan, the Holy month of fasting, so that month in particular we need to be giving,” said Khalil, who will be dropping off food at local soup kitchens weekly for the outreach, despite the fact that she will be fasting. “Our faith emphasizes being steadfast in prayer and regular in charity.”

Other fundraising projects include a dental drive to gather toothbrushes, floss and toothpaste for Hannah’s Treasure Chest, preparing meals for the House of Bread and participating with the Miami Valley Hospital in a Health Fair for the public.

“I believe in serving the cause of humanity, regardless of religion,” said Mir Pasha, a Springboro business executive, parent and grandfather, who took his family along to the Dayton Children’s Hospital for an outreach Valentine’s Day event. “This is an outreach to help everybody. We have interfaith gatherings here for Jewish, Christians and do discuss subjects of interfaith.”

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