Media Advisory
For Immediate Release
WHAT:
Catholics and Muslims share a common commitment to ending hunger and caring for neighbors in need. And in this difficult economic period, when lines at pantries and soup kitchens have only grown, working together is essential. In a gesture of good will and shared purpose, on February 13th, Monsignor Kevin Sullivan of the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York (CC) will present a portion of its food drive collection, Feeding Our Neighbors, to Muslim Women’s Institute. The collection comes from generous parishioners all across the Archdiocese of New York.
In the Bronx, Catholic Charities pantries and Muslim pantries have been working an in an interfaith partnership for the past two years, learning and serving together. The partnership evolved with support from the GHR Foundation and the Interfaith Center of New York (ICNY). ICNY brought together major partners in the effort including Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, Harlem Vicariate, Miraj Islamic School, Muslim Women’s Institute, Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood, Aqsa Mosque and Touba Mosque.
Monsignor Sullivan states, “The feeding our neighbor campaign was a Catholic response that collected food and funds for more than 575,000 meals to help meet the heightened demand for food at emergency food programs. This food will be used to feed our neighbors – non Catholics and Catholics alike. We are so pleased to support the Community Food Pantry in Highbridge.”
Nurah Amatullah, Executive Director of Muslim Women’s Institute notes with gratitude, “It’s a good thing when we share resources- we know our purpose is the same: to assist the Highbridge Community in meeting their basic needs.”
WHO:
- Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, Executive Director, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York
- Jeanne McGettigan, Coordinator of Emergency Food Program, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York
- Nurah Amatullah, D. Min., Executive Director of the Muslim Women’s Institute for Research and Development (MWIRD), Bronx, New York
- Fr. Joseph E. Franco, Pastor of Sacred Heart and St. Francis of Assisi in Highbridge
WHERE & WHEN:
Muslim Women’s Institute Community Food Pantry at Highbridge, 1262 Ogden Avenue, Bronx, NY 10452
CONTACTS
Nurah Amatullah, D.Min., Muslim Women’s Institute for Research and Development, 1-718-960-2262 mwirdcd@yahoo.com
Jeanne McGettigan, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, (212) 371-1011 x2481, jeanne.mcgettigan@archny.org
