As part of the Eid al-Adha celebration, Bay Area Community Center (BAYCC) and Pacifica Institute partnered with Embrace Relief to organize community meal services and distribute Qurbani meat throughout Northern California. The initiative was organized as part of the America250 commemoration, celebrating the anniversary of the United States through community service and civic engagement.
The Qurbani meat, sourced through the partnership with Embrace Relief, was used in two ways. A portion was distributed directly to community organizations, food banks, and families, while the remaining meat was used to prepare community meals that were served to individuals and families across the Bay Area during the Eid al-Adha season.
The first community meal service took place on May 29 at Family Supportive Housing, where volunteers prepared and served a dinner made with Qurbani meat for residents. The event reflected the spirit of Eid al-Adha by bringing the community together through sharing and service.
On June 25, volunteers partnered with the Bill Wilson Drop-In Center to prepare and serve a lunch made with Qurbani meat for young adult beneficiaries. The meal service was part of the ongoing effort to support individuals in need through the sharing of Qurbani.
A third community meal service was organized on June 28 in partnership with Abrahamic Alliance International and two local faith communities. Volunteers from three faith houses came together to prepare meal boxes. Volunteers were hosted at the BAYCC Santa Clara Community Center for preparation, and later volunteers visited WeHOPE’s San Jose RV Center to distribute 150 meal boxes.
In addition to the meal preparation, Qurbani meat was distributed directly to families within the local community as well as to several partners, including Hope’s Corner in Mountain View, River City Food Bank in Sacramento, Islamic Center of Oakland, Masjid Al-Iman, Masjid Abu Bakr, and Lighthouse Mosque in Oakland, along with the Greater Richmond Interfaith Program (GRIP) in Richmond. These organizations further distributed the Qurbani meat to families within their local communities.
Together, the community meal services and Qurbani meat distribution reached families and individuals across Northern California. Through these combined efforts, approximately 1,500 pounds of Qurbani meat were distributed directly to local families, shared through community partners, and used to prepare meals served to community members during the Eid al-Adha celebration.
BAYCC and Pacifica Institute extend their sincere appreciation to Embrace Relief, the many volunteers, partner organizations, food banks, community organizations, faith houses, and community members whose dedication made these initiatives possible. Through the distribution of Qurbani meat and the preparation of community meals, the partnership reflected the values of Eid al-Adha while strengthening the spirit of service, generosity, and community across Northern California.
