At Ramadan, Chicago Muslims step up efforts to help earthquake victims

Rami Nashashibi, executive director of the Inner-City Muslim Action Network, says a prayer as Mayor Lori Lightfoot holds a ribbon at a ribbon-cutting for Go Green Community Fresh Market in the Englewood neighborhood in March 2022. Nashashibi says the holy month of Ramadan offers his organization a chance to bolster the community work it does year-round. (Pat Nabong/Sun-Times)

As Ramadan kicked off Wednesday night, the local Muslim community is stepping up efforts to help the millions affected by devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria last month.

Muslims typically increase giving during Ramadan. The Orland Park Prayer Center, for example, will be collecting funds every night during Ramadan, which continues for the next 30 days, for earthquake relief.