Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the Amount of charges for services?
Please note that we don’t charge the recipients for any service, however, we accept donations and gifts from the donors which help us continue our work. All the donations are deposited in the bank account that belongs to American Islamic Diversity and all the funds go 100% to the projects. We also ask our volunteers to fill out and sign this following form
2. What is the Criteria to Receive Services?
We use different forms in order to get to know the recipients and learn about their need:
- When they first come to the U.S. we ask them to fill out this thorough Welcome form
- After 6 months we follow up with their case by filling out this form
- For food assistance we ask the families to fill out this form
- For vocational training, the individual must fill out this form and it will be sent to the Texas Workforce partner as well.
- For English As a Second Language (E.S.L) classes, the individual must out this form.
3. What is The Aim of American Islamic Diversity (AID)?
- Increasing the income of the family.
- Helping the families to integrate in the new society.
- Protecting the family from the deviant currents in society.
4. What are The tools used to accomplish this?
- Offer vocational training to the Head of the Household to enhance his/her income.
- Helping the Head of the Household to obtain a profession with a high income.
- Offer “ESL” classes.
- Providing individual and family counseling.
- Providing financial and in-kind assistance to the family (as needed) during the program period.
5. Approximately how many refugee families have you assisted since starting AID?
Most of the families we help have registered with us in a form and we have met them at
some point. We assisted over 1500 families since 2001 and currently assisting 500+ families on a monthly basis, and
the numbers are increasing.
6. How do you find out about a new refugee family coming to the DFW area? Are they referred to you? How much time do you have between their arrival and knowing they will be coming here?
There are multiple ways people find out about us. I mention few:
- We are partners with the Texas Health and Human Services (foodstamp office). When a family come to them for help and they find that they need more assistance, they refer them to us.
- We partner with other nonprofit organizations and we assist each other in fulfilling the needs of the families.
- Mosques who assist some families financially hand them our information.
- Word of mouth from our volunteers and others who love to help just like you. They get to know new families who are in need, then they refer them to us.
- Sometimes we get referral by rehoming agencies.
7. Do you have a system where you keep track of what items have been given to families or what is needed for the individual families? Do you have somewhere that you keep detailed information of the family members (ex: address, number of family members, age, special needs, etc). Maybe something like a google doc or excel sheet?
Yes. We have spreadsheets for household items distributions and food distributions.
- When they first come to the U.S. we ask them to fill out this thorough Welcome form
- After 6 months we follow up with their case by filling out this form
- For food assistance we ask the families to fill out this form
- For vocational training, the individual must fill out this form and it will be sent to the Texas Workforce partner as well.
- For English As a Second Language (E.S.L) classes, the individual must out this form.
These forms keep records of all the families we help/sponsor. They are confidential and are shared ONLY
to the volunteer who is delivering items to them (only name, address and phone number) without any
further information.
8. Do you keep inventory of what items you are given so that you know what you have on hand?
Yes and no. The inventory keeps changing. The donation is kept in a personal home garage and they are supposed to be delivered to the needy families right away. However, there is a spreadsheet lists the items that are given to the families and what they still need so the records would be tracked.
9. Are refugees able to start working as soon as they come to the US or is there a time period that must go by before they are allowed to work?
No, they need 4-6 months to find a job. The rehoming agency should assist them in finding jobs for them.
Some families lose their jobs after the 6 months (when they lose their privilege with the agency) and so
this is where we step in and help find jobs for them and/or vocation training.
Fortunately, AID partners with Texas Workforce, therefore, we help the newcomer families and anyone in need to get inrolled by registering themselves on the website of www.workintexas.com, then they can explore the options by getting free vocational training/education and find jobs.
10.Aside from donations from individuals, are you partnered with any other groups that routinely donate items to AID?
Unfortunately, AID haven’t had any other organization to step in and help financially. Multiple grants have been applied for but no awards have been given yet. Donors are encouraged to pay $25 a month to help us buy the necessary things for our food pantry such as cardboard boxes, tapes and other materials that we use all the time.
Please note that we don’t charge the recipients for any service, however, we accept donations and gifts
from the donors which help us continue our work. All the donations are deposited in the bank account
that belongs to American Islamic Diversity and all the funds go 100% to the projects. We also ask our
volunteers to fill out and sign this following form.
11. How do you let others know about AID? I happened to see one of the videos you posted on Nextdoor, but
am not sure I would’ve come across the organization otherwise.
Nextdoor, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn and I go to some international stores and leave our flyers there. However, we don’t have the budget to broadcast further than that at the moment.
12. Do refugees only get placed in apartments or hotels when they first arrive? Or do some get placed in
houses as well?
Depending on the size of the family. If they are more than 6 individuals, most likely are placed in houses.
13. Do you have many refugees with medical conditions or need for medical devices? Do you ever have difficulty getting medications or medical devices for them?
Not many. Most of the ones who come with disability get Medicaid. For the ones who need any medical equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, etc. or tools can request them and we'll find a way to get them for them.
14. Do the refugee families have access to medical services and/or funding?
Most of these refugees have Medicaid. The parents don’t get Medicaid once they start working, but the
children remain on the welfare.
Please note that more than 75% of the people we help are refugees, but we also help anyone in need with
no discrimination. We have homeless and people who just got out of jail, or/and families lost their jobs
and need assistance.
15. One barrier that we come across often is difficulty in transporting large items. I know you have mentioned borrowing a vehicle from other organizations/volunteers, but have you considered purchasing a truck so that there is always a way to bring or pick up items? It is an investment. Could any of the money donated be put aside to purchase one? I don’t know how much leasing/renting one would cost, but maybe it could be another option?
The limitation of AID, that there is no physical warehouse to store the large items. Most of the items donated are stored in a personal garage and are delivered to the homes as needed. At the meantime, AID do not intend to collect large furniture and usually contact other bigger organizations to do the task for them. In many occasions, AID had to rent a UHAUL truck to transfer the larger items to the homes or the Food boxes of the food pantry to Tarrant County.
AID is thriving to have a sustainable funding to get a place for rent and purchase a big vehicle that can move the items. So far the recurring amounts that AID is receiving monthly can barely cover the expenses of the Food Pantry.
16. Has there been consideration in creating another “home base” somewhere in/around Ft. Worth similar to how you have some common items at your place that sometimes stay a while until another family needs them in that area?
- I wonder if having a drop off location (either through a volunteer’s home or maybe some sort of small storage unit) would increase the number of donations from people in that area.
- Situations I am thinking that would benefit from this would be something like knowing a family will be coming to the area soon and may have nothing, so you begin to make a stockpile of necessary items. Perhaps having larger items housed there would make the trek to dropping them off with the new family easier.
- People in need may be able to have access to items more quickly if they are located at the second location.
Yes, AID has put the request to open another food pantry in Tarrant County, since the food we are getting is from the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) and is supposed to be for Dallas County only. We are waiting for their reply. Once we get approved, we will be looking at some places in Fort Worth/Garland to be able to receive the food and pack it for at least once a month. That will also open the opportunity for us to find a place to store the donated household items.
As it is mentioned before, the capacity of AID doesn’t solely depends on giving in-kind donation. The unique target of AID is to help the families to find job and better their situation. Giving in-kind donations is just the first step in getting to know the families and learn about their struggles and needs.
17. What are the In-Kind Donation that you accept
Most of the donors who donate would contact AID first to inform them of the items that they want to give. AID decides whether the item is usable by the recipient or not.
Here is a list – not limited – of the things which are needed the most:
- Appliances: Blender, Food Processer, Refrigerators, Freezers, Washer, Dryer, Microwave, Pressure Pot, Air Fryer, Can Opener, Mixers, Electric Kettle.
- Kitchen: Drinking Glasses, Dinnerware Sets, Plates, Bowls, Flatware, Kitchen Table and Linens, Chair Pads and Cushions, Pots and Pans, Tools and Gadgets, Baking Pans, Kitchen Storage, Spatula, Silverware, Tongs, Serving Spoon, Pitcher, Tapered ware, Serving Trays, Knife Set, Cooking Spoon, Mixing Bowls, Storage Containers, Trash Cans, Kitchen Containers, Spice Containers, Pantry Organizer, Cutters, Dining Table with Chairs.
- Bath: Towels, Sheets, Shower Curtains and Hooks, Shower Caddies, Bathroom Rugs and Mats, Soap Dish, Hand Soap Holder, Toothbrush Holder, Wastebasket, Toilet Brushes (must be new), Bathroom Storage and Small Furniture, Laundry Baskets, Hangers.
- Bedding (We ask the donor to stick a note on the bag or box to let us know what size is it): Bedding Set, Comforters, Sheets, Bed Pillows, Mattress Toppers, Throw Blankets, Bed Blankets, Throw Pillows, Duvet Covers and Inserts, Side Lamps, Stand Lamps.
- Home Décor and Small Furniture: Curtains, Candles, Picture Frames, Clocks, Decorative Accessories, Wall Art, Drawers, Organizers, Drawer Dresser, Office Chair, Coffee Table, TV Stand, Accent Chair, End Tables, Night Stands, Small Desks, Folding Tables.
- Electronic: TV, Tablets, Laptops, Cell Phones (unlocked).
- Personal Care (Must be New and Sealed): Oral Care (Toothbrushes and Toothpastes), Shaving Machines, Razers and cream, Shampoos, Lotions, Body Washes, Hand Soaps, Feminine Pads, Wet Wipes, Deodorants, Mists, Ear Swabs. We also accept adult diapers.
- Toys must be new/excellent condition.
- Baby: Diapers & Wipes, Nursing and Feeding Items, Baby Formula, Baby Toiletries, Car Seat, Strollers, Basinet, Maternity Items, Items for Potty Training, Baby Feeding Chair, Baby Carrier, Bouncing Chair.
- Household Essentials and Cleaning Items: Laundry Detergents, Softeners and Sheets, Cleaning Tools such as Brushes, Wipes, Broom and Duster, All Purpose and Disinfectant Cleaners, Toilet Papers, Aluminum Foil, Dishwashing Detergent, Food Storage Bags, Trash Bags, Paper Towels, Insect Repeller.
- Food: must be sealed and unexpired. We also accept Halal Zabiha Meat and Chicken only. Please do NOT donate any pork or/and non-halal meat or chicken products
- Things are not very needed: Slow Cooker, Coffee Maker, Toaster, Toaster Oven, Electric Roaster, Water Bottles, Wine Glasses, Beverage Dispensers, Griddle, Butter Dish with Lid, Dish Buffet, Steamers and Food Dehydrators, Christmas and Easter Decorations, Art that has pictures of Humans and Animals (living souls).
18. Are there any specific or descriptive so that us not in the Muslim community (aka Americans such as myself) can have a reference as to what is actually needed/not needed and why. Of course, I know you help everyone, but it is good to know as there are things Americans wouldn’t consider or just don’t know exist.
We accept (For Refugees and Unfortunate people):
- All pots, pans, etc are appreciated but there are many requests for larger pots/pans as families can be quite large and this makes it easier for them to cook.
- Electric Coffee Makers are not as common as most families we assist tend to make Turkish coffee.
- Blenders, food processors, air fryers, tea kettles, pressure pots etc. However Slow Cooker, Toasters and Electric Roasters are not needed because most families are accostomed to cook their food from scratch.
- Booster seats for older children (this must be less than 10 years from the manufacturing date as this is considered expired; they cannot be used if they were previously in a car wreck, even if they look fine. Same rules apply for car seats)
- Since many families do not always sit at tables for meals, but prefer to sit on the floor as per their culture, Then carpets and disposable mats are needed as well.
Please see the list of things that we accept on the previous question.
19. Do you accept any clothes, shoes or books?
Unfortunately, we don't accept any clothes or shoes or books unless they are upon request from the recipient families. The donation must be new or gently used and must match the same size and gender requested.
20. Are there any other type of clothes that you accept?
Yes, we have initiated a project called Sister's Closet: for the hijabi Muslim sisters. The rack of the clothes is placed in the mosques for any female enters and would like to try out the modest Islamic clothes. We only accept headscarves (hijabs), underscarves, Abayas and Jilbabs. They must be new or gently used.