The Islamic Society of Joplin fire damage

Though the Islamic Society of Joplin building was insured for fire, the Society would like to build their new facility inside the Joplin city limits, a statement from them of gratitude to the support they have been receiving from the people of Joplin and a way to aid in rebuilding that city which was so devastated by last year’s tornado. Their ravaged mosque was in the suburbs.

Their insurance covered the building, but not its contents and they want to make the new facility more secure. They are currently trying to find rental space to operate in until their new facility is built. St. Philip’s Episcopal Church will host the mosque’s members for the traditional iftar dinner that is held at the end of a day during Ramadan. The mosque’s members have been overwhelmed by all the community support they have received, in addition to the $126,000 in donations for their rebuilding fund raised in just the first day of their internet donations.

Navid Zaidi, the president of the Islamic Society of Joplin explained that their goal is to raise $250,000 and part of that would be shared with the rebuilding effort in Joplin. Donations to the mosque will benefit all of Joplin, both through allowing them to build within the city and bring to Joplin the economic benefits of hundreds of people coming in to the city from all over the region, and with the use of the money to help in other Joplin rebuilding projects. Donations to Joplin have obviously fallen off in the 14 months since the tornado tore the heart out of the city, and this will be a nice way to reboot donations for the city. Zaidi told Yahoo News that “It’s really awesome.”

If you wish to contribute, you may send checks to Islamic Society of Joplin, P.O. Box 3164, Joplin, MO 64803. There is also a PayPal account on the Facebook even page for the August 25 “Neighbors” – Joplin Mosque Support Rally in Landreth Park, at the crowdsourcing website www.indegogo.com/joplinsmosqueofficial. (Addresses provided by the Joplin Globe newspaper.)

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