In a society of questionable role models and corrupting influences, parents are always on the lookout for ways to impart desirable values to young children. The Zakat Foundation of America (ZF) offers a double blessing. Not only does this program teach children the value of charity, but it also supplies toys, school supplies and hygiene products to children in need. Charitable families and youth groups may become uniquely involved in this program by having each child purchase a school backpack and fill it with items suitable for any age or gender of the child’s choice. The child is also encouraged to include a letter, his or her photograph, and an address as the recipients are encouraged to respond. The backpacks are collected by ZF and distributed to poverty-stricken children here in the United States along the south side of Chicago and on Indian reservations in the Southwestern states and abroad in countries including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Ghana, Palestine, Turkey and Lebanon.

Backpacks are actively being collected by The Zakat Foundation year-round for the autumn distributions. We encourage schools, Mosques, families and individuals to participate in this program. The steps below will help you create your own backpack to send and contribute to the education of a child somewhere in the world. This program works really well as a bonding experience between children and parents as well as teaching children the joy and excitement of giving charity.

How To Send Your Backpack

The Zakat Foundation (ZF) collects and delivers filled backpacks to children in distant countries and here in the United States. Your gift of love may find its way into the arms of a child in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Palestine, an Amer-Indian reservation, or any other place where a poor child waits for a spark of hope in a dim world.

You can ask your friends, family members, community, and ummah (faith family) to help with this noble cause. There are four ways in which a backpack can begin its journey to delight some poor child.

1. Fund a ZF Backpack.

A. Send a donation of $25 (check, money order, or credit card), your photo or a photo of your entire family, and your personal letter (with return address).

B. Enclose a note asking ZF to buy and pack a backpack for you. You may use one of the participation forms (or a copy) at the end of this book, or you may let us make the selections for you.

2. Do It Yourself.

A. Using one of the participation forms (or a copy) from page 16, select a gender (boy or girl) and an age group. The age groups are (a) ages 2-4, (b) ages 5-9, and (c) ages 10-14.

B. Purchase a nice, new backpack. Be sure to select a backpack that anyone will like –not one with commercial designs (like TV cartoon characters or big, name- brand logos), and not one with words that some people may not understand or which may be offensive to some people.

C. Fill the backpack with school supplies, hygiene items, and small gifts. Here are some ideas:

School supplies: ballpoint pens, glitter pens, glue pens, glue sticks, writing pencils, drawing and coloring pencils, pencil sharpener, crayons, glue stick, non- toxic white glue, calculator, ruler, circle template and triangles, drawing templates, notebook and notebook paper, spiral-bound notebooks, drawing paper, craft paper, fun stickers, stamp pad and fun stamps, tape, sticky notes, non- staining markers, finger paints, finger painting paper.

Personal products: toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, mouthwash, soap, shampoo, conditioner, hair bows or clips, towel and wash cloth, lip balm, body lotion, sunscreen, facial tissue, wet facial cleaning pads, waterless hand cleaner, hair comb and brush, unbreakable mirror, body powder, cologne, decorated band- aids.

Surprises: doll or stuffed animal, ball, yo-yo, puzzle, game, model kit, scrapbook kit, art or craft kit, modeling clay, coloring book, storybook, T-shirt, socks, slippers, cap or scarf, flashlight with extra batteries.

DO NOT SEND: used clothing or other used items; toy guns, soldiers, or other war- or crime-related items; food, candy, or gum; anything breakable, particularly glass containers; sharp objects; anything imprinted with words that are or may be offensive to any person or group; medicine; anything in an aerosol container (for example, spray deodorant), anything in a container that may leak and cause damage to other items (check caps on shampoo, etc to insure tight closure); unsafe substances (for example, glue that has toxic fumes); toys or games requiring batteries.

D. Into a large envelope; put your personal letter and photograph, the completed participation form, and some funds to help with shipping. In case the envelope accidentally gets separated from the backpack, put your name and address on a small piece of paper and insert it into the backpack (preferably in a small pocket on the backpack). Write your name and address on the outside of the envelope; use a large clip or clothes pin to attach the envelope to the flap or handle of the backpack. Place the backpack with the envelope into a large plastic bag and tie the bag shut or secure it with a twist tie. This procedure should keep everything together as you bring the backpack to ZF or ship it to ZF in a box.

E. Be sure to pray for the child who will receive your wonderful gift!

3. Make a donation of any amount toward the backpack program.

Send your check or money order with a note specifying “backpack program.”

4. Use the backpack program for a group project.

Please present the backpack project to your club or other group as a charitable cause. Your group can either collect items and fill backpacks or sponsor a fund-raising event and send the proceeds to ZF for use in the backpack project.