NNAAC is excited to announce that on Saturday, May 19, 2012 volunteers from around the country will join together to participate in the 8th National Arab-American Service Day.  While the service projects in each city will be unique, this event is a true testimony that Arab Americans are giving back to their cities and to America.  In the spirit of community service and volunteerism, Arab Americans will join other Americans in a day of service to strengthen their communities, build bridges with one another, and make an impact in their neighborhoods and cities. As a symbol of unity, participating organizations will partner with organizations outside of their own community in order to serve all Americans.

Here’s a list of the collaborative Arab American service projects around the country! Please call if you would like to volunteer in your area!

Access of WNY in Lackawanna, NY:  Will be holding 2 Service Day Projects on both Friday and Saturday:  Friday with Meals on Wheels and Saturday volunteers will go to their local Mosque to do landscaping around the Mosque and painting inside.  There will also be a BBQ at the end of the projects to celebrate all of the volunteers’ accomplishments.
Contact Person:Maneera Algharazi and Roweida Mohamed, 716-332-5901
Estimated count of Volunteers:  70

Arab American Family Services in Bridgeview, IL:  A Citizenship Workshop for locals.  Will also be collecting canned goods to donate to local domestic violence shelter.
Contact Person:  Marwa Abed and Sharehan Hamodeh, 708-599-2237
Estimated count of Volunteers:  50

Arab American Institute in Washington, DC:  2 women shelters; Rachael Women’s Shelter, volunteers will help serve lunch and clean. At Mt. Carmel, volunteers will help stain the back deck.
Contact Person: Emily Manna, 202-429-9214
Estimated count of Volunteers:  50-60

CAC and NAAP in Boston, MA:  Partnering with NAAP Boston.  Will be working with 826 Boston to help underprivileged children with tutoring, art projects, design comic books and have a banquet to close off the event.
Contact Person:  Noor Dughri, Tarek Abu-Jbarah, 877-222-9740
Estimated count of Volunteers:  25

Arab American Heritage Council in Flint, MI:  Will be cooking and volunteering at local Soup Kitchen.  Will also be asking local business for cleaning supplies as donations to help clean the Soup Kitchen facility.
Contact Person:  Raeda Andoni, 810-235-2722
Estimated count of Volunteers:  25-30

Alif Institute in Atlanta, GA:  Will be partnering with Hands on Atlanta on a project called Truly Living Well to do landscaping, planting and gardening.
Contact Person:  Victoria Saeed, 770-936-8770
Estimated count of Volunteers:  25-30

ACCESS Ohio in Cleveland, OH:  Will be partnering with the May Dugan Multi-Service and Multicultural Center to do spring cleaning and building maintenance.  Activities include landscaping, gardening, repairing any building damage, and cleaning around the building.
Contact Person:  Taghreed Farah, 216-252-2900
Estimated count of Volunteers:  10-15

Arab Community Center in Houston, TX:  Event name is Houston’s Immigrant and Refugee Children’s Day which is a day for Iraqi Immigrants and Refugee children to get educated by their local Police and Fire departments on safety and what they need to know in case of an emergency, and to how to overcome their fears in any case of emergency.  There will be Doctors and Dentists volunteering to do free eye and dental examinations. There will also be a fair for the children which includes basketball, soccer and martial arts.
Contact Person:  Bobby Dale, 832-351-3366
Estimated count of Volunteers:  25

ACCESS in Dearborn, MI:  Will be volunteering at Belle Isle Conservancy, which is a historical park located in Detroit in partnership with the American Syrian Arab Cultural Association (ASACA).  There is an old Zoo which is closed and run down and needs some TLC.  We will also be cleaning along the shore of the Island and destroying invasive plants in the forests.
Contact Person:  Arwa Algharazi and Rachid Elabed, 313-843-2844
Estimated count of Volunteers:  300

American Syrian Arab Cultural Association in Troy, MI:  Will be volunteering at Belle Isle Conservancy, which is a historical park located in Detroit in partnership with the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services in Dearborn, MI.  There is an old Zoo which is closed and run down and needs some TLC.  We will also be cleaning along the shore of the Island and destroying invasive plants in the forests.
Contact Person:  Rouba Samman, 248-988-1166
Estimated count of Volunteers:  300

Arab American Association of NY in Brooklyn, NY:  Park clean-up with the Shore Road Park Conservancy, a local community park.
Contact Person:  Christophe Jospe, 718-745-3523
Estimated count of Volunteers:  50

Access California Services in Anaheim, CA:  packaging 5,000 bags of fresh produce which will go to schools in order to encourage healthy eating habits. 
Contact Person:  Rida Hamida, 714-917-0440
Estimated count of Volunteers:  20

Arab Cultural and Community Center in San Francisco, CA:  Arab Film Festival in SF will collaborate on a project with ACC and (Project Feed).   More details to follow.
Contact Person:  Weyam Ghadbian, 415-664-2200
Estimated count of Volunteers:  25

Arab Film Festival San Francisco, CA:  ACC in SF will collaborate on a project with and (Project Feed).   More details to follow.
Contact Person:  David Andrusia, 415-564-1100
Estimated count of Volunteers:  25

Middle Eastern Professional Association Miami, FL:  Are deciding on a project and will join future calls with updates.
Contact person: Tawfiq Zacharia,
Estimated count of Volunteers:  25

Somali Social Services San Jose, CA:   Will be joining with Arab Middle Eastern Muslim & South Asian (AMEMSA) at  Oakland and San Francisco.  Details will follow
Contact person:  Niman Hassan, 408-361-8173
Estimated count of Volunteers:  25

The Arab-American Community Center in Orlando, FL:  Partnering with the Coalition for Homeless to donate and assemble hygiene kits that contain shampoo, conditioner, bar soap, etc. Landscaping at one of the Coalition’s 3 playgrounds to weed, water, etc. and clean the Coalition dining room and kitchen area.
Contact person:  Rasha Mubarek, 407-504-7333
Volunteer count:  25

Albustan Seeds of Culture Philadelphia, PA:  Will be partnering with NAAP Philadelphia to beautify the garden at the Northeast High school.
Contact Person:  Hazami Sayed and Bareeq Albarqawi, 267-303-0070
Volunteer count 20

Arab MidEast Leadership Network, Astoria NY:  Working with Hanac Senior Citizen home to help clean their facility, entertain and feed the elderly.
Contact person:  Rami Nuseir, 347-924-9674
Volunteer count:  25