901 Ummah hosts luncheon at the Ronald McDonald House

Volunteers Nada Selim and Rand Alqirem serve families residing in the Ronald McDonald House.

Photo by Sameer Mansour

“The son of Adam will not pass away from Allah until he is asked about five things: how he lived his life, and how he utilized his youth, with what means did he earn his wealth, how did he spend his wealth, and what did he do with his knowledge.” (Tirmidhi)

On Sunday, June 3rd, 901 Ummah had the honor of hosting a luncheon for families residing in the Ronald McDonald house located in Downtown Memphis.

The Ronald McDonald House Charity (RMHC) is a nonprofit organization, consisting of local chapters across the nation. Each chapter caters to the needs of the local community; in the case of the Memphis chapter, the Ronald McDonald center houses families of exclusively St. Jude patients.

At the house, the patients’ families are placed in their own rooms and are provided with the support and physical resources needed to endure these difficult times. These resources include food, shuttle services, living facilities, and lots more.

RMHC also offers opportunities for local organizations to host events of their own to benefit the patients’ families, which 901 Ummah made sure to take advantage of this Ramadan.

The 901 Ummah luncheon offered delicious rice, chicken, and veggies, donated by Alrahmah Bakery & Meat Market, along with sweets, freshly cut fruits, and drinks for all RMHC families.

901 Ummah gathered 15 volunteers who served and prepared the luncheon.

Uzair Ahmed, a University of Memphis Junior, said “This has been probably the eighth time that I was able to participate in the luncheon and each time has been better than the last. It’s humbling to serve these families in need during this month of Ramadan.”

Following the luncheon, the 901 Ummah volunteers received an extensive tour of the Ronald McDonald House.

“Serving food and sharing smiles with young St. Jude's patients and their families was a rewarding experience for all. It was a great test of patience, as fasting volunteers served delicious food to others. However, this made it even more special, as we planned this service event for the blessed month of Ramadan, serving as a reminder to the volunteers to increase in gratitude. Alhamdulillah this visit to the Ronald McDonald House was a success and InshaAllah many more to come.” said lead organizer of the event, Lyba Naseer.

As Ramadan concludes, it is vital for Muslim youth to dedicate their time to volunteering and serving the greater community, for Allah will indeed ask about how they had spent their time in this precious month.