During Ramadan and daily prayer, the Evergreen Islamic Center in San Jose offers a place for spiritual reflection. It also provides a community hub, voting center and supportive services from food to health care.
The center is unique in that it not only provides a food pantry and food distribution, it also offers free medical and dental services for uninsured people. Several grants have enabled the center to accomplish this health care feat. It received $150,000 from nonprofit Islamic Relief, $90,000 from the California Association of Free Clinics and $50,000 from CVS, Chief Medical Officer Aifra Ahmed told San José Spotlight. The center’s annual operating budget for health and dental services is $50,000.
“A big part of our faith is charity,” Faisal Yazadi, former board president for the Evergreen Islamic Center, told San José Spotlight, adding the center donates annually to numerous causes such as natural disaster aid, libraries, teacher organizations and Second Harvest of Silicon Valley food bank.
During the CalFresh benefit delays last year, the center saw a significant increase of people needing help — and it hasn’t let up. Board President Saqib Hassan told San José Spotlight the center has seen an almost 50% increase in food assistance as inflation continues to rise…