Black History Month Spotlight: A Masjid Carrying on a Mother’s Legacy

Published On: February 21st, 2023By Categories: Community Support, Partnerships3.9 min read

Black History Month comes around once a year, but year-round, members of the Feeding San Diego network exemplify Black leadership. One such leader is Hakim Alaji, whose group works out of Masjidul Taqwa, the first Masjid established in San Diego. Its members collaborate with Feeding San Diego and other local non-profits to keep their community of Mountain View fed.

A man standing in a food pantry holding papers

Hakim Alaji

Identifying a Community Need

Hakim Alaji has long been involved in feeding people in his community. In 1982, a representative of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) asked his school to manage the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) in San Diego.

“I became the assistant administrator and operations manager for the Community Preparatory School SFSP from 1982 to 2003. We served up to 7,000 children each day a snack and lunch when they were on their summer break,” Alaji explained. “I became involved with this program [the food distribution at Masjidul Taqua] when Asa Majied told me about how his mother was feeding people from her home and at the local park for years before she passed. He said we could do the same thing for people in the community and for members of our masjid.”

“What inspired me was my mother, Theresa Mae Saunders, who had been feeding her community in San Diego for about 50 years at her home,” Asa Majied added. Saunders, known affectionately as “Mama T,” was a long-time resident of Mountain View. In 2018, the city unveiled an honorary street sign above Ocean View Boulevard in her honor.

A group of people in a park holding a sign that says 'Honorary Theresa Mae Saunders'

Asa Majied and other community members at the street naming ceremony for Theresa Mae Saunders

“Hunger can’t always be seen, but it is there,” Alaji said when asked why he does the work he does. “People don’t always say they are in need. Hunger can hinder the growth of individuals and communities. We should make as great an effort as possible to get food to those who need it.”

Expanding Capacity and Finding Allies

“The believers at Masjidul Taqwa have prepared nonperishable items and food for the homeless in our area for years,” shared Ameerah Abdullah, another team member supporting Masjidul Taqwa’s food distributions. “I was asked to serve families in the area. I saw the need to expand our service. When I heard about Feeding San Diego and the possibility of getting help from them, I seized the opportunity. With their help, we have been able to increase the amount of food we deliver and the number of people we serve.”

A food distribution at Feeding San Diego partner, Masjidul Taqwa

A food distribution at Masdijul Taqwa

Masdijul Taqwa receives a bi-weekly delivery from Feeding San Diego and picks up from one of our agency mobile marketplaces. Mobile marketplaces allow community partners to select the food they’d like to distribute. They also participate in our Food Rescue Program, picking up food donations from local stores in the area, including bread from Flowers Baking Co.

“We are almost completely dependent on donations,” Alaji explained. “Our resources are limited but growing. Food rescue has helped us provide more food than we could afford.”

Honoring a Legacy

Feeding San Diego’s partnership coordinator for South San Diego, Marilyn Villalba, lauded Alaji for his advocacy for the immigrant population in the community he serves.

“The experience that stuck with me is a time Masjidul Taqwa received kiwi in the fall of 2022,” Villalba recalled. “A client from Africa had never seen or tasted kiwi. Hakim then sliced a kiwi for them to try. The client thought the fruit was delicious. In fact, they enjoyed it so much that they returned with more clients to receive kiwi.”

“This is Black History month, a time to reflect on our history and a time to plan a better future,” shared Alaji when we asked what this time of year meant to him. “As I reflect on my involvement in feeding programs, I think about my mother talking about her time growing up on the farm. She complained about making quilts and always making extra in case someone needed it. She would often speak about spending so much time canning food but always canning extra because you never know who would need help. Working in this program is honoring our history by sharing that quilt or passing along some canned food to a family in need. Working on this program is trying to lift someone up.”

Accessing Support

Masdijul Taqwa distributes food on the third Saturday of each month. You can find other resources near you on Feeding San Diego’s Find Food Map.