Zam Zam Foundation-USA successfully completes ‘Phase 1’ of Winter Blanket Drive in Chicago

The first lot of blankets, under the Winter Blanket Donation Drive for Newly Arrived Migrants, was handed over to the City of Chicago – Government last week by Zam Zam Foundation-USA.

With over 15,000 of newly arrived migrants having reached the city of Chicago, which is one of the 3 sanctuary cities in the USA, and with Winter season expected to begin in mid-December, this project is seen as an absolute priority.

The first lot of high-quality brand-new blankets were symbolically handed over to Alderperson. Andre Vasquez, (Alderperson Andre Vasquez, 40th Ward Chicago), Chairman of the Chicago Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights, at his office on the Friday before the thanksgiving week on the 17th November.

Representatives of Zam Zam Foundation USA Abdul Gaffar, Mushthaq Nayeem, Mafaz Faizal & Mohamed Hisham participated in the handover event together with Diana Perez, Director of Community Engagement for the Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights (CIRR).

This Winter Blankets Donation Drive, by Zam Zam Foundation USA, is a direct response to the calls by Mayor of Chicago Brandon Johnson (Chicago Mayor’s Office) & Chairman of Chicago Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights, for nonprofits & communities to come forward and support the City’s efforts.

Commenting on the occasion, Alderperson. Andre Vasquez commended the efforts by by Zam Zam Foundation USA and thanked all those who contributed towards the drive, while encouraging others to join in in this very timely intervention.

The support received from many communities in Chicago & beyond including the Sri Lankan & South Asian communities in making this Drive a success was highlighted and it was informed that the second lot of the blankets will be handed over by mid-December 2023.

They also thanked Jesus Del Toro from the City of Chicago for coordinating the handover to the City representatives and all others who supported this project by Zam Zam Foundation USA.

Zam Zam Foundation-USA Inc., is a Chicago based nonprofit with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status working on community needs fulfilment through Collaboration and Youth Empowerment as it’s key areas of focus.

The organization also supports the work of it’s counterpart, ZamZam Foundation, in Sri Lanka.