WHO ARE WE

 

We are a 501c3 non-profit organization, established in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Maria which devastated Puerto Rico.

Immediately after Hurricane Maria touched down in Puerto Rico, we created our organization MISERICORDIA PARA LA HUMANIDAD under which we ran our project “The 3 Puerto Rican Imams.” This project commenced by providing emergency relief efforts and sustainable projects that addressed and still address the needs of the People of Puerto Rico in light of the devastating natural disasters that occurred in September 2017, Hurricane Irma and Maria.

These powerful storms literally hit home for the directors, three Puerto Rican Muslim leaders, Imam Wesley AbdurRazzaq Abu Sumayyah Lebron, Imam Jose “Yusuf” Rios, and Imam Daniel Abdullah Hernandez, and their supporters, who share both their pain and vision, making this a mission of love and solidarity.

This project is unique in that it unites various organizations and works collaboratively with others both inside and outside of Puerto Rico, while still working independently in its response. It has successfully brought people together of all faiths and nationalities with the common goal of providing relief to those most affected by the hurricanes and easing some of their hardships (refer to our facebook page for pictures of all the work).

Imam Yusuf Ríos

Imam Wesley 

Imam Daniel Hernandez 

They traveled in and out of Puerto Rico for 1 year and 6 months in the aftermath of Maria, delivering food, water, household items, generators, building a home, etc., working with many grassroots organizations that established community kitchens in the most affected areas of Puerto Rico.  They also had the pleasure of working with the head liaison of community affairs out of the State Capital.

The 3 Imams have also assisted in Hawaii and Guatemala after they both faced natural disasters in 2018, thereby giving human life priority and attention during times of dire need. Locally the Imams have committed to delivering food, winter items (sleeping bags, blankets, winter hats, winter gloves), and hygiene kits to the homeless in NJ, Philadelphia, and Ohio. We have also given back to our local communities by doing neighborhood street clean ups, turkey giveaways during the holiday, and backpack giveaways for elementary, middle, and high school students.

They are a small group of 3 Puerto Rican Imams who collaborate with various individuals, organizations, grassroots workers, etc., to bring relief and aid in times of need.

MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT 

Puerto Rico in the Aftermath of Hurricane Maria 

The 3 Puerto Rican Imams have impacted over 5000 families in over 42 municipalities in Puerto Rico through personal home visits, distributing aid door to door, working with local churches, and donating food and supplies to community kitchens.  They have donated generators to power other efforts such as a community kitchen and laundry services for a community in Lares, and for a medical clinic in Vieques which was treating patients after the hospital was closed down.  They were able to provide donations for children with special needs in Moca and build a small house for a family that lost everything in a community called Villa Esperanza.

Solar Panels and Parking Lot for Masjid Shadeed in Haiti 

The 3 Imams were contacted by Imam Bilal from Masjid Shadeed in Haiti. Imam Bilal presented the Imams with a proposal to establish solar panels that would help them operate their mosque with minimal expenses thereby allowing them to focus on local humanitarian work.  In this proposal they also included the need for financial resources to complete their parking lot.  The 3 Puerto Rican Imams were so amazed by the great work this organization was involved in within their local community that they immediately collected the funds for both projects thereby helping Masjid Shadeed bring both to successful completion.

Guatemala in the Aftermath of the eruption of the Volcano of Fire

The 3 Imams were able to impact over 500 families through distribution of aid in areas that were most impacted by the eruption of the Volcano of Fire.  They were also able to re-build a bridge that was destroyed in Ixcan Guatemala which was the only way for this community to commute into the main city where they would trade, work, and buy all of their necessities.  They honored the 3 Puerto Rican Imams organization by naming the bride “Puente Islam” and the mayor sent them a special certificate of appreciation and thanks for donating the funds and collaborating with other local efforts in order to accomplish this task.

Hawaii in the Aftermath of Hurricane Lane 

The 3 Puerto Rican Imams immediately reached out to a local mosque in the aftermath of Hurricane Lane.  They were informed that there were many people affected by the storm. They decided to commence a small campaign in which they successfully were able to send leaders of the local mosque funds to go out and deliver items of first necessity to the local Hawaiian community.  

Local Work

The 3 Puerto Rican Imams saw the importance of also contributing back to their local communities where they reside. They immediately created ongoing projects that would become a staple in their communities. They have focused on winter drives and food for the poor and homeless, turkey giveaways for poor, neighborhood cleanups, and backpack giveaways to the poor youth who attend the local elementary, middle, and high school.

OUR ORGANIZATION’S INFORMATION 

Misericordia Para La Humanidad

Facebook: 3 Puerto Rican Imams

Passaic NJ

EIN # 82-3059838