A message from the Board

We are excited to share an important update about our organization and the future of our mission to fight food insecurity in our region. The Islamic Food Bank has now transitioned into the Islamic Food Bank Foundation, a dedicated entity solely focused on addressing hunger and expanding our impact. 

This change comes in response to the growing need for food assistance and the success of our efforts over the years. Recognizing the importance of a dedicated organization, the former Foundation of the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo has transferred all assets and projects to the Greater Toledo Community Foundation, allowing us to concentrate fully on food distribution and related initiatives. 

To ensure strong leadership and strategic growth, a new Board of Directors has been established to oversee all aspects of the food bank, including operations, funding, and future expansion. We are also pleased to announce that Lauren Bacans-Grounds, our former Program Manager, has stepped into the role of Executive Director, bringing her passion and expertise to lead us into this next phase. 

We would like to express our deepest gratitude to Dr. Razi Rafeeq, who retired as the Executive Director at the end of 2024, for his leadership, vision, and dedication in helping build a strong foundation that has brought us to this pivotal moment. His tireless efforts have played a key role in shaping the organization’s success and setting the stage for our continued growth. 

Last year alone, we provided 645,000 meals to individuals and families in need. Our services have expanded to support 3,120 children per month, and we now operate three pantries across the region. These milestones reflect the power of community collaboration and the generosity of our supporters. 

As we move forward, we remain committed to deepening partnerships and strengthening this initiative as a community-driven effort led by local Muslims and supported by all area Islamic institutions. At the same time, we continue to embrace a diverse volunteer base representing people from different faiths and backgrounds. Most importantly, our mission remains steadfast: to serve anyone in need, regardless of race or religion. 

We are grateful for your ongoing support and look forward to working together to ensure that no one in our community goes hungry. 

Jameel Burkett, Chair
Nadia Ashraf-Moghal, Vice Chair
Hussien Y. Shousher, Treasurer
Ahmed Elwardany
David Shelton
Mohamad Moussa, MD
Kareem Hammuda