VOA常速英语2014--穆斯林慈善组织在华盛顿郊区蓬勃发展（在线收听）

Muslim-run Charity Thrives in Washington Suburb 穆斯林慈善组织在华盛顿郊区蓬勃发展

HERNDON, VIRGINIA —

In a sleepy suburb of Washington, D.C., a Muslim-run charity is thriving as it serves a diverse community and helps those in need. 

In downtown Herndon, Virginia, a mother and two children are receiving help from this food pantry run by an organization called “FAITH,” short for “the Foundation for Appropriate and Immediate Temporary Help.

弗吉尼亚州赫恩登市中心,一位母亲和两个孩子正在接受食品分发处发放的救济，这是由一个被称为“信仰”的组织所运营,它的全称是适时即刻救助基金会。

About 800 to 1,000 people come to the food pantry for help every month.FAITH was officially founded in 1999 and has grown to become a viable part of the Herndon community, supported by staff and volunteers. Its programs are aimed at empowering people to get out of poverty.

每个月大约有800到1000人会来到这个食品分发处寻求帮助。于1999年正式成立的信仰组织在工作人员和志愿者的帮助支持下壮大并且已经成为赫恩登社区不可或缺的一部分。其运营宗旨就在于帮助人们摆脱贫困。

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"We have an intake process where we evaluate the situation of the client. And then from that evaluation and research,then we make our plan with the client:how are they going to change their situation? So we are actually trying to help the client change their situation. We are not maintaining them in the same place. We want them to be proactive.

“我们的过程是这样,首先会评估客户的情况。然后根据评估和研究为客户制订计划:他们如何改变自身状况?所以我们实际上是试图帮助客户改变他们的处境。我们不是让他们一直原地不动。我们希望他们变得积极。

Tanveer Mirza, one of the founders of FAITH, says the organization was founded on the principles of helping others regardless of their religious background.

该组织创始人之一的特瓦尔·米雷萨表示信仰的原则是建立在帮助别人基础上而不管宗教背景如何。

"The thing is we are here, and everybody here is our neighbor and we live together, and that's the teaching of Islam, to serve everyone who is in need and who is your neighbor. So that's where we took our inspiration from.

“事情是我们在这里,在这里的每个人都是我们的邻居,我们一起生活,这是伊斯兰教传达给我们的宗旨,帮助每个需要的人,帮助你的邻居。所以这就是我们的灵感来源。

Other than the food pantry, residents also visit the FAITH thrift store. Unique to this thrift store is the selection of garments from various cultures, donated by local residents. But there are also new items sold here, such as these in-line skates, donated by stores.

除了食品分发处,居民也会去逛逛信心组织的旧货店。这一商店的独特之处在于由当地居民所捐赠的充满了各种不同文化的商品。但也有新的商品在这里贩卖,比如这些商店所捐赠的轮式溜冰鞋。

"Clothes or something for the house, like for the kitchen, or some toys for the kids. And sometimes to send for my family in my country, in Mexico.

“居家衣服什么的,还有厨房用品,或者是为孩子们准备的一些玩具。有时是在我的祖国墨西哥的家人送过来的东西。”

With the support of volunteers, local officials and business owners, FAITH has been able to serve a constantly growing community.

在志愿者，当地官员和企业主的支持下,信仰组织能够为这样一个不断壮大的社区服务。