When Texas froze, Muslim volunteers mobilized to help
Ma'ruf Dallas, a Muslim organization that provides aid to refugees, distributes water in Dallas on February 17 after dangerous weather hit Texas. (Photo courtesy of Ma'ruf Dallas)
Aliyah Muzamil, a single mother of two, was without electricity for three days and nights during Texas’s deep freeze last month. One night, the three of them slept in her car to keep warm. One day, they ran out of food.
“I left my kids with my neighbors and went to the masjid to grab hot meals they were giving out,” said Muzamil, using the Arabic word for mosque. “I assumed not many people would be out because of the extreme cold.”
When she got to the place where the Islamic Center of Irving was distributing food, she found “at least 150” cars in line, Muzamil said. “People need help. And I am not ashamed to admit that I needed help, too.”
