Service during a time of need in San Diego

By Abdul Azim Muhammad | Last updated: Apr 23, 2020 - 12:28:53 PM

Believers of Muhammad Mosque No. 8 in San Diego delivered fresh food to those in need. Photos Courtesy of Muhmammad Mosque No. 8 /Facebook

As the world watches the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus in China, Italy and other parts of Europe and the Middle East, America also is faced with the reality of the pandemic. Cases began springing up in the U.S., celebrities and non-celebrities began to feel the reality that they were not exempt from the tragedy the Covid-19 virus has brought.

Cities and states began to shut down non-essential businesses, stay at home orders in cities across America were issued, the largest amount of people in American history applied for unemployment and store shelves began to go empty as people flocked to grocery stores to pile up on essentials.

This exposed the crisis within a crisis that already existed in the Black community throughout the United States which is that we live in a food desert.

Massive food inequality exists in neighborhoods that are predominantly Black and poor. However, in one city the Muslims went to work to see that poor Black, Brown, White, the elderly, disabled, orphans and foster children would have fresh and healthy food in this time of great need. The believers of Muhammad Mosque No. 8 in San Diego, Calif., headed by Student Minister Waliullah Muhammad, the local representative of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, leveraged preexisting relationships the mosque developed through years of service in the Southeast San Diego community.

They worked through the nonprofit “I Am My Brother’s Keeper” (IAMBK) and partnered with the Jacob Center, Urban Alchemy 360, Paving Great Futures, San Diego Food Bank, Feed San Diego, and the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus.

Efforts started about a month and a half ago when Sister Maria Muhammad was invited to Mesa Commons Food Drive. While there, she noticed that people were apprehensive in standing too close to each other in fear of catching the virus as they waited for their food in line.

Sister Maria Muhammad felt that there had to be a way for people in need to wait for food with some dignity and to also keep people safe. Her brilliant solution was to partner with Urban Alchemy 360 to create an app and section on the website where people could sign up in advance to get a home delivery or show up in person to receive their food.

Food bags consist of fresh fruit and vegetables, canned food, cereal, milk and more.

They quickly partnered with the San Diego Food Bank and Feed San Diego to accommodate families from five neighboring zip codes. This forced them to need a large facility. The Jacob Center opened their doors free of charge, otherwise the center would be closed due to the pandemic.

The believers rented a U-Haul and a refrigerated truck every week to pick up food and keep the produce and milk fresh. They work 6-8 hours nonstop each Tuesday picking up the food, separating the food out of large 50-pound bags into smaller family-size bags, distributing food to the public and then cleaning up.

The food bags consist of fresh fruits like apples, oranges, and watermelon and fresh vegetables like avocados, cabbage, carrots and salads. The bags also include canned food, cereal, milk and more.

“Since we can’t be at the mosque, we’re bringing the mosque to the people,” said Sister Waliyyah Muhammad. They inspect all the produce and don’t give out any food that is not in good condition or cans that are bent.

“The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan said that once we made sure that our families are secure we should do everything we can do to help and serve our community and that has been our motto in San Diego since he sent me here over 20 years ago.” said Student Minister Waliullah Muhammad.

That’s exactly what they have done, serve. They have served in the rain for hours working tirelessly to get the proper food out to the people. They serve the elderly, disabled and shut-in and made over 60 home deliveries this past April 7. They served over 700 families the third week of April and had lines from the parking lot that flowed out near the streets. The San Diego Police Department was on site to help direct traffic.

As cars pulled up, volunteers asked the people to pop their trunks and open their back doors. Then they placed the food bags in vehicles so that they and the community members could remain safe and practice social distancing. Whenever someone drove up without a mask, they were given a mask free of charge.

Student Minister Waliullah Muhammad (left) of Mosque No. 8 with other volunteers prepare food bags to distribute to community residents in San Diego.

Their sacrifice and service in a time like this is nothing less than a show of the spirit of a true believer in the living God who appeared in the person of Master Fard Muhammad and embodying what it means to be a true servant of the people.

Brother Charles 3X Alexander, outreach director of “I Am My Brother’s Keeper,” said, “I used to gang bang. If I could do that, I can definitely be on the frontline in this epidemic to save and feed my people.”

The people express love and appreciation as they pull up to get their food. Many thank the volunteers verbally and others by throwing up “praying hands” as a sign of gratitude.

Their efforts have inspired people like Alvenesia Sims, the operational supervisor at the Jacob Center whose job it is to just open the facility for the volunteers. She was so touched by the demonstration of love for the people she decided to volunteer and help.

“Wherever Min. Waliullah takes this after the pandemic if it’s not at the Jacobs I’m going to follow and help,” she said.

Their efforts in the heart of the Black and Brown community of Southeast San Diego has inspired the compassion of others who are now looking to duplicate their efforts like the Emoji Black student body, the Sister circle and San Diego Hip Hop Health.

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