• UPDATE 1 (Monday, Jan 21): We are overjoyed that, only 1 day after the campaign launched, we hit our initial goal of $20,000! This will help about 40 families of federal employees and contractors. The campaign has been $500 per hour! The goal has now been raised to $30,000. Please see below as we continue updating a list of Muslim communities nationwide who are also conducting their own relief efforts on the ground. 

• UPDATE 2 (Tuesday, Jan 22): Our second goal of $30,000 was hit late Tuesday night and the goal is now $40,000. In addition to grants to individuals, we are also now providing grants to non-profit organizations for service projects that directly assist federal workers and contractors nationwide during the Shutdown. Please see below. 

• UPDATE 3 (Friday, Jan 25): Although President Trump just announced that the government will re-open for the next 3 weeks, this campaign is still in effect since federal workers will not receive backpay for a while. Moreover, federal contractors will probably not be receiving any backpay at all. Organizations (service providers) can still apply for grants to assist federal workers/contractors if they have service projects that will take place soon. For individuals and organizations, the link to apply for grants is listed below.

• UDPATE 4 (Monday, Jan 28): We are happy to report that our campaign has concluded, exceeding our second goal of $40,000. We are also happy to report that over $30,000 in grants to individuals and service providers have already been sent out, with more going out over the next couple of days. Many federal contract workers will not receive backpay and we encourage them to continue applying for grants. We are also prepared to re-open this campaign should another Shutdown take place in mid-February. 
  
  Recent NBC Interview with Federal Contractors (Click here to view)

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Muslims Unite to Provide Shutdown Relief

The current government shutdown, which began on December 22, 2018, has become the longest in United States history. 

The shutdown is causing financial distress for hundreds of thousands of fellow citizens who rely upon the federal government as their main source of income. Currently in it's 30th day, the shutdown has left an estimated 800,000 government employees and an estimated 2 million federal contractors without pay. 

The Crisis

Surveys show that the vast majority of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. Many federal workers are sharing stories of desperation; some are selling their wedding rings to pay rent, some are choosing between buying medicine or paying off utility bills, and some are even struggling with purchasing groceries. Read a few of those stories here. 

According to a 2016  survey from Bankrate.com, only 37% of Americans have enough savings to pay for an emergency that will cost between $500 and $1,000. A Washington Post analysis found that 110,000 federal workers earn less than $50,000 annually. For these workers in particular, missing just one paycheck has had a catastrophic impact. Many are sharing their stories on social media with the hashtag #ShutdownStories (view on Twitter here).  

The Campaign  

As of today, there are no signs that the shutdown will come to an end. In a campaign organized by Penny Appeal USA and CelebrateMercy, the Muslim-American community extends its hands to help provide relief to struggling federal workers and contractors. 

We wish to respond to hardship with hope, as our faith instructs us, and send a message of compassion through action. Our Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said: "Show mercy to those on earth, and the One in Heaven will show mercy to you." He also taught that one should never delay payments for an honest day's work: "Give workers their wages before their sweat dries." [Source: Ibn Majah] 

Resources

• Short Link to this Campaign: LaunchGood.com/Shutdown
• Press Release: Read Here
• Download Campaign Flyer: Click Here
• Hashtag: #Muslims4ShutdownRelief
• Volunteer: Email info@celebratemercy.com to volunteer
• Questions / Media Inquires: Email info@celebratemercy.com

The Funds & How to Apply

100% of fundraising proceeds from this campaign will be used to support families of federal workers and contractors who are impacted by the current shutdown. Though this is a Muslim-led campaign, we welcome friends of all faiths to contribute (all donations are tax-deductible). 

a) Grants of $500 will be issued by Penny Appeal USA to federal contractors currently facing hardship. Our hope is that $500 will at least cover a family's groceries for an entire month; or other critical expenses such as medical bills. Preference will be given to applicants from larger households, single-income households, and those with less annual income.

b) Grants up to $1500 will be issued by Penny Appeal USA to non-profit organizations who are providing assistance to federal employees and contractors who are currently not receiving paychecks. 

c) Due to the 'Gifts from Outside Sources' rule put in place by Unites States Office of Government Ethics, federal employees cannot apply for these grants. Federal employees looking for assistance however can receive assistance in the form of goods in kind from both partner organizations listed below and from those service providers who successful apply for our grants. 

If you are either a non-profit organization providing services to federal workers / contractors, or a federal contractor experiencing financial difficulty, you can apply for a grant by visiting: https://pennyappealusa.org/grants. Applicants who meet the criteria will be contacted within 3 days of their submission. All applicants and documents submitted will be treated with full confidentiality. 

We can also help connect struggling federal workers and contractors with community partners in cities across America. Community partners are Muslim-led, local organizations who are already helping or plan to help federal workers with meals, free medical services, and other needs. 

Community Partners - Muslim Communities Nationwide Helping Federal Workers

Endorsements

Our Team 

This campaign was co-organized by two 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations:

• Penny Appeal USA - headquartered in Alexandria, VA, is one of the fastest growing relief and development agencies in the US. Alongside affiliate members of Penny Appeal Global, we work to eradicate poverty in over 30 countries. Our way of doing charity is simple, and has a massive impact. We make charitable giving affordable and rewardable, ensuring everyone can help those in need by donating just a few pennies each day. Since launching in July 2016, Penny Appeal USA has raised over four million US dollars to help eradicate poverty here in the US and overseas. Oussama Mezoui is Penny Appeal USA's President & CEO.

• CelebrateMercy - a US-based organization that teaches about the Prophet Muhammad's life and character through films, programs, and social campaigns. Its recent campaigns raised over $150,000 to repair vandalized Jewish cemeteries and over $150,000 for victims of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting. Media stories about each campaign reached over 100 million people worldwide, including this TV interview on CNN. Tarek El-Messidi is CelebrateMercy's Founding Director.