A Little Goes a Long Way

“What difference does my donation make anyway? Will my money really solve the problem in the grand scheme of things?”

These are the questions that may go through our minds when we see collection boxes and attend fundraisers. These are valid questions from the perspective of an individual. But when we come together as a community for a cause, the impact can truly be visible.

Last month NZF received an application from a family in Alberta. The head of the household, Jamal, had a physical disability and that alone was challenging enough. But their troubles were far from over. Just this year, they learned that the Jamal’s wife had been diagnosed with cancer. Whatever extra income she was able to bring in to meet the needs of the household, had come to a sudden stop. With neither of them able to earn an income, they found themselves headed fast toward a financial crisis.

Although the family is currently on Alberta Works, it is not enough to satisfy their essential needs. They were forced to take loans from family and friends - but there's only so much one can borrow from others. A loan is a loan, after all. Even after all this support, they have been struggling to keep a roof over their head and put food on the table.

This was the time they first reached out to National Zakat Foundation. With the support of one of our case workers, NZF was able to process the application and start funding the family with housing and food expenses. But who made the real difference in this situation? It was YOU and your donations - without which, none of this would have been possible. There are many more cases like brother Jamal. They struggle, many of them in silence. Your decision to drop a little something as you pass by a donation box helps them stand and walk down the road to self-sufficiency!

If you would like to help causes like Jamal's, please donate at nzfcanada.com/donate