The Muslim Community Center – East Bay (MCC East Bay) is a religious organization whose primary goal is the emergence of an American Muslim identity. Its purpose is to practice and share the values of Islam by providing religious, educational, and recreational facilities for members of the public. An important part of its mission is to work with its neighbors in a way that "benefits all and brings hearts together," according to Aminah Abdullah, Community Services Manager.

"We meet the needs of the East Bay community, not just the Tri-Valley area," says Abdullah. "People come to us from cities as far away as Oakland and San Leandro. We are not just limited to Livermore, Dublin, and Pleasanton." 

The nonprofit opened in Hacienda in 2010. Its food pantry serves 13 cities. Additional services include rental assistance, car donations, refugee support, burial services, financial counseling, and education in the Qur'an, the Muslims' holy book. At MCC East Bay there are lessons in Arabic, Sunday School classes, blood drives, voter registration, free Covid testing, mental health counseling and therapy, and support for the victims of domestic violence through a partnership with North American Islamic Shelter for the Abused and Tri-Valley Haven.

"When the federal moratorium on rental evictions ended, the MCC helped with rental assistance for Muslim families," notes Abdullah. MCC also partnered with San Ramon Valley Islamic Center to help many Afghan refugees who have moved into the Tri-Valley area. MCC organized apartment set-ups, provided rental assistance, and donated cars and bicycles. "It was important to us to welcome the refugees with sincerity and dignity as they began their new lives under very trying circumstances in their beautiful new country."

People unfamiliar with MCC East Bay might be surprised by the level of interfaith work it does. Its food pantry recently partnered with Open Heart Kitchen, a nonprofit organization that helps the homeless, to bring food every Thursday to MCC East Bay for distribution. Abdulla estimates that most of the families that pick up food on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 3 and 6 pm are not practitioners of the Islamic faith. "Hunger knows no religion; it is a human need that we all experience," she says. "It is our duty to make sure that none of our neighbors are going to bed hungry."

According to Abdullah, the MCC community truly appreciates the relationships it has with its neighbors, including the times when neighbors have been generous with the use of their parking lots or have been understanding and supportive about late-night worship hours in the holy month of Ramadan. "There is no doubt that we could not do the important work that we do or provide the valuable services that we provide without the support and flexibility of our neighbors."

Muslims celebrate Ramadan in the ninth lunar month of every year. It is a time when they fast every day from dawn to sunset for almost 30 days. This year, the month of Ramadan will take place primarily in April. "We are hoping to organize an Interfaith Iftar, a fast-breaking meal, where people from other faith communities can join us to break bread together," says Abdullah. "Ramadan is a time of celebration and peace and joyous festivities and late-night worship and good food. With pandemic restrictions being alleviated recently, we would love to be able to share with our neighbors."

For more information about the Muslim Community Center – East Bay, please visit mcceastbay.org.