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LA-area Muslims head to Skid Row to help the homeless during the last week of Ramadan
A group of men and women wait in the shade before the start of the annual Humanitarian Day on August 12, 2012.
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On Sunday, August 12, young women from the Islamic Center of the South Bay, in Lomita, visit with each other as they wait for the start of this year's Humanitarian Day. They will be offering free clothes to homeless men and women living in downtown L.A.
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Juan Agustín Garcia, originally from Guatemala, waited at the front of a line that extended down the block before the start of Humanitarian Day on August 8, 2012.
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Men, women, and families experiencing homelessness try to stay cool in the shade as they wait in a block-long line for the start of Humanitarian Day on Sunday, August 12, 2012.
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Baiyina Abdul-Aleem (center), volunteered for her 5th year at the 2012 Humanitarian Day. For one day during the holy month of Ramadan, Los Angeles area Muslims come together to offer free clothes, food, hygiene kits, and health care to their homeless neighbors living downtown.
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Compton native Umar Hakim was one of the original members of a Muslim-led coalition that started Humanitarian Day after the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. The annual event takes place during Ramadan to offer help to Los Angeles' homeless community.
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Volunteers hand out toiletries to men and women experiencing homelessness during the 2012 Humanitarian Day.
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A crowd of volunteers listened as local "Halal" (or family friendly and Muslim) comedian, Omar Regan, offered directions for the day's efforts.
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As volunteers stand by, the first guests are helped through the line where they received free clothes, health screening, toiletries, books, and more.
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Dr. Shela Admani checks Angelo Washington's blood pressure at one of the booths offering free health screening.
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James Flenoury, originally from Berkeley, CA, receives eye drops before an exam checking for glaucoma or other eye disease.
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Hana Fida, 5, of Woodland Hills, offers a bag of toiletries during her first time at Humanitarian Day.
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Aneesah Hakim, 8, daughter of Humanitarian Day co-founder, Umar Hakim, helps distribute free toys.
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With temperatures in the high 90's, the 2012 Humanitarian Day was a bit challenging for Muslim volunteers who were in the middle of their Ramadan fast. Because she can't drink water during the fast, Jamilah Mustafa instead used a cold bottle to cool down.
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LA-area Muslims head to Skid Row to help the homeless during the last week of Ramadan
For a dozen years, Los Angeles-area Muslims have come to the Skid Row intersection of Towne and Fourth streets on hot August days.
They were there again Sunday for “Humanitarian Day.” It falls on the last week of the traditional Ramadan holiday of giving and fasting.
The first Humanitarian Day came after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Muslims around the U.S. felt widely misunderstood, so a few locals decided to head to L.A.'s Skid Row — their cars full of clothing, food and water to give out to homeless people here.
Now there are hundreds of volunteers here from throughout the Southland: immigrant, native-born and black Muslims, and non-Muslims, too.
Enako Major said this is her first year coming to this event; she’s doing so in honor of her son, who liked volunteering before he passed away last year.
“I’m a Christian," said Major. "My husband is a Muslim. But when it comes to doing something good, let’s not nitpick over what religion, what color, whatever. The objective is the same, and that is to serve and to help and to give people dignity.”
The volunteers line up at the end of one block; homeless men and women do the same at the next intersection.
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Juan Agustin Garcia is patiently waiting on his wheelchair; he’s one of the first in line. Garcia, his wife and son came to the U.S. from Guatemala five years ago. They live on the streets of Skid Row — but this is the first time he’s heard about this event.
“There’s another family in our block who told us this was happening, that they’d be giving away free [things]," said Garcia. "So we came to see what they’re giving out, but also to have a little fun, because when you’re living on the streets, we need some of that, too.”
There are no music or performances here, but for many of Skid Row’s homeless people, the event does mean a break from routine on the streets. It also gives them a chance to pick up hygiene items, kids clothing, food, toys — and get checked for HIV or high blood pressure.
By 11 a.m., it's time for a brief prayer, to remind many of the fasting Muslims here of the reasons why they should volunteer during their holy month.
The event's MC, Omar Regan, has been doing this for four years. He’s a “Halal comedian” — a man who tells family-friendly jokes for and about Muslims; jokes that are meant to challenge most people’s stereotypes about the faith.
Regan didn't come to this event to tell jokes, but he did come hoping that the number of homeless people who need help has gone down from last year.
“Our numbers have dropped, as far as feeding the homeless people," said Regan. "But they’re still here. There’s still a thousand of them. But I think it’s doable — I don’t even think it’s something so farfetched. I think we need organizers that can take care of a whole block, and between us, the government, Salvation Army, Church of Latter-day Saints and others.”
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Those kinds of interfaith, civil and government partnerships are already working.
Regan said 2,000 homeless Angelenos walked through this intersection seeking help four years ago, but now, that number is down to about 1,200.
By 3 in the afternoon, the volunteers finished handing out everything from books to condoms. When the sun goes down, the sidewalks on this block become home to dozens of homeless people once again.
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