Outreach Committee
Purpose: Outreach to communities of various faiths, with the intent of working together for a noble cause, strengthen bonds of friendship, and promote an accurate understanding of Islam.
Past Events
About 30 OC Unity Now! volunteers met at The OC Food Bank in the spirit of MLK Day. Event organizers and team leads thanked us for our efforts and spirit of unity. Thank you volunteers! Your support, enthusiasm and hard work were appreciated in helping make 13,000+ boxes of food for needy families in OC.
OC Unity Now volunteers ventured out to Irwindale to help with the Rose parade Deco Event. We were amongst hundreds of other volunteers and were tasked with prepping the flowers that go on the floats.Great job volunteers!
Approximately 30 OCUnity Now! volunteers met with hundreds of other volunteers to help pack over 2,000 boxes with holiday dinner food and other necessities for needy families. All volunteers were very enthusiastic in their efforts and we completed packaging the boxes in record time. We were joined by Lou Correa- congressman of the 46th District of California for conversation and pics!
This past weekend, OC Unity volunteers joined with about a hundred other volunteers at Families Forward to help serve approximately 900 families with Thanksgiving Baskets.
The baskets were full of everything needed for a delicious dinner.Some volunteers stuffed baskets and some made Thanksgiving cards, whilst we were tasked with distributing them to the grateful clients.
This Thanksgiving event truly was a team effort. A huge thank you to everyone that helped out!
OC Unity Now volunteers joined Scout groups, church groups and other community volunteers at Crystal Cove Sate park and cleaned upto 267 lbs. of trash from the beach! A fun and meaningful morning of stewardship, unity and meeting new friends.
On Saturday, September 7, 2019, OC Unity’s most talented artists were honored at the 2019 Art Awards Ceremony! Presented by ICOI, the Arts Awards Ceremony celebrated about 20 artists and writers from across Orange County.
Our congratulations go to the following recognitions and winners!
OC Unity Now volunteers were hard at work in our community at the OC Food Bank this weekend. We worked in teams collaborating with other participating volunteers to sort, stack, wrap and count donated diapers and baby wipes. Our youth and adult team leads did an awesome job coordinating and communicating.
Thank you to everyone who participated in sorting over a million diapers to help support babies and children experiencing homelessness. Way to go volunteers!
OC Unity Now volunteers took the opportunity this weekend to get outside and help plant trees and shrubs for Arbor Day. Mayor Raths (City of Mission Viejo) appreciated our presence at the event, personally thanked our volunteers and encouraged OC Unity/ICOI to keep up the good work! Our friend, Katie Porter (Irvine, congresswoman) volunteered alongside volunteers at the event and took to social media to show us her support.
About 70 OC Unity Now! Volunteers made 120 fleece blankets for cancer patients. These blankets will be delivered to local cancer treatment centers and hospitals in Orange County. Great Job Volunteers!!!
Over 30 OCUnity Now! volunteers joined The Harvest Club in the city of Orange this morning to harvest Navel oranges and Grapefruits. The 1300 lbs of nutritious fruit harvested this morning will be distributed to those in need in OC. This was a fun and satisfying event for all!
Well done- Way to go OC Unity Harvesters!!!
About 50 OC Unity Now! volunteers met at The OC Food Bank in the spirit of MLK Day. Our volunteers were enthusiastic and even our youngest participants broke a sweat with their efforts! Katie Porter, our recently elected member of Congress was happy to see us again and thanked everyone for their service. Thank you volunteers! Your support, enthusiasm and hard work were appreciated in helping make 12,000+ boxes of food for needy seniors in OC.
Approximately 40 OCUnity Now! volunteers (powered by ICOI) joined with hundreds of other volunteers to help pack 2,000 boxes with holiday dinner food and other necessities for needy families. Our volunteers were very enthusiastic and our youngest participants were supercharged in their efforts. Also, Katie Porter our recently elected member of Congress personally thanked us for our service and invited us to her swearing in ceremony.
For a third year in a row volunteers from OC Unity Now! ( ICOI’s community service & engagement group) assisted the Irvine Police Department with their Annual Open House Event. Our message of unity in the community was seen by hundreds of community members and our presence was appreciated by members of the public in addition to the IPD who thank all the volunteers for their help and support and look forward to our assistance again in the future.
OC Unity Now! hosted its second Annual Arts Contest Awards Event. The 2018 “Together we can…” Awards were presented Saturday afternoon. Thankyou to everyone who participated in inspiring, sharing and spreading the vision of unity. Entries were judged on interpretation of the theme, creativity and technique. Our congratulations go to the following winners:
Adult- Iman Defrawi – Together we can flourish and grow
High- Raneem Iftekhar – Together we can pave the road to the future
Middle- Safia Ayesha – Together we can make something beautiful
Elementary- Eeshal Ali – Together we can save the planet
Literature
Adult- Naila Ahmed – Together we can bring change
Middle- Mishaal Mahmood – Together we can inspire
Iza Izz – Together we can accomplish anything
Elementary- Eeshal Ali – Together we can save the planet
Recognitions (Honorable Mention)
Fawaz Khan – Together we can give charity for a better Muslim future
Amaar Malik – Together we can change the world.
Way to go OC Unity Now volunteers!!
OC Unity Now! (ICOI’s community service & engagement group) spent Saturday afternoon recognizing and sharing our appreciation of our volunteers.This year, we appreciated our 150+volunteers. There were 780 total volunteer hours dedicated to OC Unity Now’s mission in 2017. Totaling a value of approx $21,520. That is truly inspiring!
Volunteers are the heart and soul of OC Unity Now! You are also the backbone of the initiative. Nothing we do would be possible without your dedication to selflessly serve the members of our community and spread the message of unity. Thank you!
32 OCUnity Now! Volunteers braved the cold early Saturday morning and ventured out to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena to join hundreds of other experienced professionals and volunteers to help decorate the Rose Parade Floats for the Paradiso Parade Float Company. We worked on the Amazon Prime float and the Singpoli float prepping, gluing and applying a variety of seeds, leaves and of course flowers to the floats. The efforts of our hard working volunteers was appreciated by the designer and staff at the float company and our presence and message of unity in the community was seen by over 5000 community members and pre-parade tour visitors.
35 volunteers of all ages and backgrounds from (ICOI’s community service and engagement group ) OC Unity Now! ventured out early Sunday morning to participate in a very successful food boxing event hosted by the Noble Viking Charities of Orange County.
OC Unity Now! (ICOI’s community service and engagement group) welcomed Cub Scouts and their families from pack 612 to ICOI. This was an opportunity to see a mosque in operation and to also learn about Muslims.
Guests had an opportunity to watch a prayer service, ask questions as they toured the mosque, and browse different items on display at the artifact table.
A big thank-you to Sheikh Jamal for agreeing to give an impromptu presentation and host a question and answer session.
Volunteers from OC Unity Now! (ICOI’s community service and engagement group) along with about 100 other individuals gathered early saturday morning at Families Forward in Irvine to help distribute about 900 Thanksgiving food baskets. The baskets were full of everything needed for a delicious dinner, including turkeys, produce, pies, and more. Some volunteers stuffed baskets whilst we were tasked with distributing them to the grateful clients.
This Thanksgiving event truly was a team effort. A huge thank you to everyone that helped out!
Volunteers from OC Unity Now! ( ICOI’s community service & engagement group) assisted the Irvine Police Department with their Annual Open House Event on Saturday afternoon. We helped with tours, dress up and photo booth, popcorn and CSI activities as well as helping pack everything away. Our presence was appreciated by members of the public in addition to the IPD who thank all the volunteers for their help and support and look forward to our assistance again in the future.
———————————————-
Winter 2017: Meet Your Muslim Neighbor; Fleece Blankets for Cancer Patients
Our OC Unity Now! event this last Saturday had 120+ amazing volunteers in attendance for the Hand Tie Fleece Blanket Event at ICOI. Members of both the OC community along with ICOI volunteers worked together to make over 55 blankets and 45 cards. Thank you for touching the lives of cancer patients with faith, hope and love.
———————————————-
Fall 2016: Meet Your Muslim Neighbor; Irvine Global Village Festival, Open Mosque Day
2017 Paradiso Parade Float Decorating
OC Unity Now! joined with hundreds of excited volunteers at Decorators’ Village to help Paradiso Parade Floats in prepping thousands of flowers to be affixed to this year’s Rose Parade floats. The place was buzzing with excitement, hard work and fun. The float we worked on is expected to be the tallest in this year’s parade at 42 feet high featuring a mouse holding a book, a gigantic giraffe and the U.S. Marine Corps teddy bear – all reading together. More than 60,000 chrysanthemums, along with countless carnations, roses and orchids were used. We had many thousands of people who had come to tour and watch us at work, with a number of them asking us questions and some thanking us for our service. Our team lead from the float company was eager for our team to return next year.
———————————————-
Irvine PD’s Annual Open House
———————————————-
Summer 2016: Interfaith Iftar
Winter 2015: Give Back/Service
Fall 2015: Open Mosque Day, Global Village Festival
Summer 2015: Interfaith Iftar (Click here to see photos)
Co-Leaders
Sis. Hajar Jaidi
Sis. Sondos Kholaki
To volunteer or get involved, please click here.