As churches worldwide mobilize in Haiti's greatest time of need, a spirit of cooperation is highlighted by Muslims in the US and their ongoing interfaith aid partnership with the Mormon Church.

Islamic Relief USA is partnering with the Mormon Church on shipments of aid for Haiti, including hygiene kits and temporary shelters. "We do a lot of partnerships with them," spokesman Naeem Muhammad told America.gov, "such as in Indonesia with the tsunami and in Pakistan with the earthquake."

Impoverished Haiti is familiar territory for the Muslim charity, Zakat Foundation of America. Zakat Foundation Executive Director Khalil Demir told America.gov his organization has partnered with the California-based What If? Foundation to support a meal program for Port-au-Prince's children.

"The Zakat Foundation has made it possible to feed these children in large part because of their grant to us last year," said What If's chairwoman of the board, Margaret Trost. Now, both organizations are working together to send earthquake relief to Haiti.

The Zakat Foundation aims to send two chartered cargo planes laden with supplies to Haiti. Muhammad of Islamic Relief USA said he hopes his organization will have an assessment team on the ground within days.

Fundraising for Haitian earthquake relief efforts is of utmost importance to these and other Muslim-American organizations. Islamic Relief USA launched a worldwide appeal for $1 million in aid and the Zakat Foundation pledged $50,000 in immediate assistance.

"There has been a huge response from people to our request for aid. It is the same here as it would be in Muslim countries — we have been receiving donations nonstop," said the Zakat Foundation's Demir.

The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) has established a special Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund (HERF). "We established the fund because we realize the magnitude of the devastation and feel we are morally compelled to contribute to alleviate the suffering in Haiti," said ISNA Secretary-General Safaa Zarzour in a press release.

Muslim Americans at the local level are donating earthquake aid to Haiti through ISNA and other large Muslim-American organizations. In Chicago's 400,000-strong Muslim community, fundraising efforts are under way to help Haitian earthquake victims, according to Kiran Ansari, interim executive director of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago.

"We have set up a fund at the council where we will send funds to organizations like the Zakat Foundation and Islamic Relief USA," Ansari told America.gov. "We have sent out a request to all the khatibs in area mosques to make the situation in Haiti part of their Friday sermon."

Ansari and other Muslim-American community leaders have made it clear that relief efforts in Haiti need as much support as possible.

"This does not have to be a Muslim-centric cause; [Chicago's Muslims] can open their wallets to all of their neighbors," Ansari said.

(America.gov)