On April 3, Hayat Pharmacy used the drive-throughs at its Burleigh and North Avenue locations to distribute 3,200 free masks and gloves.

And since the first week of April, Aladdin’s MKE has been providing once-weekly lunches or breakfasts to healthcare workers. Owner Azmi Alaeddin and his crew of five volunteers have served meals at Ascension St. Francis and at the Ascension St. Joseph’s Campus, which is located in the Milwaukee neighborhood that is the source of nearly 1 out of 10 Covid-19 cases in the city.

This morning, Tuesday, April 21, Alaeddin’s team served 400-500 breakfast meals at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center at 2900 West Oklahoma Ave.

Alaeddin, an Islamic Society of Milwaukee (ISM) board member, said, “This is just like everyone doing what they can. This is one way I can contribute along with the Muslim community. As an immigrant and as an American, I feel it’s a duty for me to give back.”

Aladdin MKE’s three locations are closed during the pandemic for the duration of Wisconsin Governor Evers’ shelter-at-home order. Alaeddin said it is “more expensive for me to be closed than to do nothing.” He referenced the Quran when he said, “your wealth will never decrease if you are giving charity because God will bless you multifold. The blessing comes from God, the family, [and] the community.”

Alaeddin is assisted at the hospitals by Imam Noman Hussein of ISM West; Inshirah Farhoud, an ISM board member and vice president of Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition; one of his employees; and his son Yousef, who is working from home these days and who, Alaeddin said, “is indispensible.” In addition to arriving at 6:00 a.m. to begin preparations, Yousef “likes to take pictures. He has really been an asset for us.”

Yousef Alaeddin, who currently works remotely at his “day job” in HR for Harley-Davidson, said that the response from healthcare workers has been overwhelmingly positive. “From their statements and their body language, they definitely show they need a change of routine.” ISM’s “being able to provide a very small token of appreciation really does brighten up their day.”