Interfaith Community Comes Together to Combat Hunger in North Texas

U.S. Hunger, Compassionate DFW and Richardson Interfaith Alliance (RIA) partnered with East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) to host the event ‘Feeding Children Everywhere,’ with over a thousand volunteers from all backgrounds gathering to pack meals for needy local community members, over the weekend. 

The city of Richardson, which was designated a compassionate city in 2014 by the Charter for Compassion, has partnered with U.S. Hunger for seven years, however, the pandemic, scheduling conflicts and a recent fire at City Hall had made hosting a joint event nearly impossible. 

Members of EPIC’s outreach committee, who are also part of RIA, Aminah Chowdhry and Afreen Syed, were made aware of the need for a space to host the annual event a couple of years ago and offered the masjid’s spacious gym. 

“We really felt like this is outreach, where we are able to address the basic needs of the community,” said Chowdhry “Being Muslims we also have this part of our faith that is you feed people and take care of them. We wanted to do outreach, which is not just giving people a Quran and telling them what Islam is, but the basics of taking care of their needs.”

Each year dignitaries from Plano, Richardson and surrounding areas are invited to attend and speak about the impact of the event. The Mayor of Richardson, Paul Voelker, attended this year to show his support for the interfaith effort at EPIC, where thousands of meals were packed. 

“There's no wall between Richardson and Plano, and there are so many houses of faith that participate in this event every year and I couldn't be more proud,” said Voelker. “And to do over 100,000 meals now two years in a row, it's really special.”

 RIA has partnered with Compassionate DFW for the past seven years to provide the funding and space necessary to invite U.S. Hunger. Angela Reese from RIA says she was grateful that EPIC offered its facilities, as their usual location of Richardson Civic Center was already booked. 

“The people of EPIC have been amazing, I mean, epic actually in all that they do, they support so well,” said Reese. “Both in the ideas that we have, but also bringing other ideas into it to help enlarge it and make it even better, but also helping with volunteers and donations and things like that to make the whole thing possible.”

Compassionate DFW Chair Charles Barker said this event was near and dear to his heart. Barker has seen the growth of this event from when it began in 2015 with less than 100 volunteers. Since then, Compassionate DFW has helped fund and organize the packing of these meals.

“What a great way to bring the community together for a common cause. And something as serious as food hunger. I mean, what two things could you do better?”

This is the second year EPIC has provided the space and packed a record 100,000 plus meals this year, with the help of 1,300 volunteers. Due to the impact of COVID-19 on nonprofit funding, the organizations that usually fund the event were unable to collect donations. The congregation of EPIC stepped up and provided most of the $30,000 required for the meals. 

U.S. Hunger provided materials and tables to package dry food ingredients like pasta, lentils and dried vegetables. Every table had 12 volunteers, each with a specific task in the assembly line. The packaged meals were then taken to local ministries and food pantries where they will be distributed to the nearly 4 million Texans experiencing food insecurity. 

During the start of the pandemic and after Texas experienced a deadly winter storm in February last year, EPIC received calls from people who needed help accessing basic necessities such as food. 

“We really want to make EPIC a community center where not only Muslims, but the entire community can look for support and help,” said Chowdhry. 

Chowdhry says she hopes that their efforts to take care of their fellow community members will help break through biases held against Muslims and add to a positive representation. 

“I think the best way to counter that is not to debate anything,” said Chowdhry. “I think for our own people, our own youth, this kind of outreach is important to build their self-esteem.” 

As the event just so happened to be held on September 11 this year, EPIC invited the first responders of Plano to honor their service. Some officers spoke words of gratitude and praised volunteers for sparing their time. 

Food vendors from local eateries provided meals and snacks to volunteers. This year sponsor booths were added where community members could promote their business or organization. 

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