Toy Drive

Have I mentioned Im so happy were back in Canada? ;)

MashaAllah there are such awesome initiatives going on in our community, makes me so proud alhamdulillah!

Yesterday National Zakat Foundation and MYRec came together to do a Toy Drive.  Each child brought in a toy, wrapped it, and made a card.  There was then an awesome story time and presentation for kids and parents who participated.

May Allah swt accept all the hard work from the many volunteers who made this event happen! Ameen!

Story Time

Making cards

Sticker packages for cards

Wrapping gifts

Food Baskets

Unfortunately there is a strong misconception that it is better for us to send out zakat money to those abroad because people living in Canada cant be that poor.  However there are many families in our community who struggle to feed their kids on a daily basis.  Mashallah National Zakat Foundation is working to break that misconception and encourage people to distribute zakat money locally to support those who are silently struggling.  

The other day, we got together with a few Homeschooling families to assemble food baskets.  MashaAllah all items were donated by local families.  One of the homeschooling mothers had opened her house so that all the items could be collected, and then assembled into baskets.  Each child got a list and had to go around the living room collecting the items.  We then packed everything into cars and dropped it off with NZF and they will inshaAllah deliver to the deserving families.  

May Allah swt accept each and every donation from those who gave and feed them and their families from the food of Jannah, Ameen.

Please check out the National Zakat Foundation website and consider giving your zakat through them!

Mesjid Mosaics

We made mesjid mosaics but printing out mesjid silhouttes (from a google search), placing them face down on clear contact paper, and then placing small pieces of coloured tissue paper around it.  Alhamdulillah it was a fun project for the kids and brightened up our kitchen a bit :)

Eid Packages for Refugee Children

A friend of mine is working with a relief organization who is helping refugees in Yemen and Somalia.  Yesterday we hosted an iftar for friends and got all the kids to make Eid cards and then we made packages with candies, stickers and a balloon.  InshaAllah these packages will be delivered and were hoping the brother who is delivering them will be able to send us pictures of when the kids receive them!

May Allah swt accept it from us, and help those children to have a slightly happier Eid because of these packages, and instil empathy and kindness is our children's hearts for all of humanity, Ameen.

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Assembling the loot bags

Some of the cards

Packed loot bags

Fire Station

Another idea we got from the 30 Days of Ramadan Goodness blog was to visit a Fire Station and thank the Firefighters for the hard work they do in keeping out community safe.  We got a tour of the fire truck and gave them a card and Tim Horton's donuts.  

Giving firefighters donuts and a card

Sitting in the driver seat

Sitting in the back seat

Timmie's

Another idea which we got from the Ramadan Goodness Blog was to pay for someone at Tim Horton's.  When we got in line, we drove past the speaker where you order, and went straight to the window, gave the lady five dollars and this note.  We asked to give it to the person behind us.  The kids were really confused before when I was trying to explain to them and were actually very nervous (as you can see on Yusuf's face in the pic) but afterwards they were SO excited.  When we drove away they were carefully watching to see if the car behind us was following us.  Mashallah it was a cute experience.  I explained to the kids that inshaAllah Allah rewards us for making someone else a little happier.  May Allah accept it, Ameen.

Flowers for Neighbours

I found this amazing blog mashallah which shares amazing ideas about how to spread kindness is Ramadan.  We took this idea from that blog...check it out here.  

We made these for our neighbours... it has a flower, a small pack of dates and a card.  

I got the free printout for Muslim Matters.

Fasting Cycle

We made a fasting cycle wheel.  Each kid coloured one portion.  We glued it onto bristol board to make it stronger and used a butterfly pin to attach them.

I got the printout from Islamic Bulletin Boards. 

Date Packages for Family Friends

We took dates, put almonds inside (after removing pits), and sprinkled coconut on top.  We got small boxes from  the dollar store and decorated with ribbon and name tags.  Kids learned about feeding a fasting person and getting the reward of that fast as well.

Making name tags for boxes

Finished product (minus labels)

A plate for our family

Working hard

Ramadan Pillow Cases

We took old pillow cases and used fabric paint to make special Ramadan pillow cases!  :)

Ramadan with Kids

This Ramadan one of my goals is to really focus on the kids.  To make it special and beneficial inshaAllah.  We are spending this Ramadan with cousins, so alhamdulillah we have more kids around plus all the kids are older and able to comprehend more.
MashaAllah alhamdulillah, there are so many resources online that I really had to use minimal brain power, just looked around and collected things I liked.  I made a spreadsheet of the stuff I liked and have been trying to do an activity a day.

The day before Ramadan, I made charts for the kids to track the amount of hours they manage to fast, and rakat they managed to pray.  This was my own idea.  I just made charts in a word document.

A family friend went to Makkah a while ago and brought back musalahs for the boys.  I saved them for a special occasion, wrapped them in ribbon and gave it to them the night Ramadan began.  We also hung lights in the boys room.

We made a Ramadan banner for the kicthen,  along with a number banner to first count down til Ramadan began, and now that its here, were counting the days.

We added our Ramadan Advent Calendar, which was purchased from Handmade Beginnings a few years back.  I wrote different challenges to put in each pocket, such as smiling more, praying salahs all on time, giving money in sadaqah etc.

A friend and I conducted a Welcome Ramadan Workshop for kids and we got them to make Ramadan banners for their doors.... Here's Yusuf's.

A shot from the workshop

All the kids made personalized Iftar placemats which has the dua for breaking fast.
I am totally drawing a blank as to which blog I got these from, but it you search pinterest you can find the printout on its own.  InshaAllah if I remember I will post the original blog it came from to give that sister due credit :)

I found small jars at the dollar store, and bought decorative jewels for each child.  We made good deed jars so whenever the kids feel they did a good deed, they come tell a parent and get a jewel.  InshaAllah once the jars are filled they can get a treat :)

Ramadan

Alhamdulillah living in a Muslim country provided us the opportunity to visit many different Mesjids this Ramadan.
I hope the kids appreciate and remember all of these experiences... If not, the blog will inshallah serve as a good reminder :)