The community came out and volunteers collected four and a half tons of food and hygiene items. The event was co-sponsored by the Glenview Clergy Association and I-CERV (Ismaili Community Engaged in Responsible Volunteering). Items collected were donated to the Northfield Township Food Pantry.

"We thank the Ismaili community for setting this up and having it be so well organized. It's been a tremendous success,” said Northfield Township Supervisor Jill Brickman. “We helped more than 800 families we are serving on a regular basis right now. Many families in the area have turned to the food pantry during this time of crisis as a place for support.” Brickman added, “We want to say a big thank you to everyone who has participated in sharing our belief that hunger is unacceptable in our community."

Members from the Glenview Police and Fire Department were on hand to show their support for the initiative as well. Several Fire Department members joined in the effort to unload donations from vehicles, help sort items, and load them to deliver to the food pantry.

Scott Britton, Cook County Commissioner for the 14th District, attended the event to donate, and later posted, "It's wonderful to see the community come together to support one another!" With the backing of the entire Glenview Clergy Association, over 200 individuals attended the event to help make it a success.

"Bringing the community together for a good cause is one of the many ways our volunteers give back," said Amyna Lakhani, Honorary Secretary of the Ismaili Council for the Midwestern United States. She went on to say, "During these times, and with this being during the holy month of Ramadan, conducting a food drive was a way to donate to people in need and a way to serve mankind. We are fortunate to have partnered with a great organization that allowed us to give back to the community that we are a part of."

The Ismaili community has distributed more than 10,000 homemade cloth face masks made by volunteers to various first responders, hospitals, and local government leaders, to provide to anyone in the community. In fact, 2,500 masks were donated last week to the City of Chicago as part of Mayor Lori Lightfoot's cloth mask drive. 

As Ismailis around the world step into action to assist their local communities, it all comes down to putting faith into action. As I-CERV volunteer Shamil Tajuddin put it, “during times of uncertainty it’s a good way to come together and give back.”