Our History

Barakah Muslim Charity was founded to fulfill the Muslim Community of Rochester's dream of living out the Islamic faith tradition's call to feed the poor. It began humbly around 2010, distributing sandwiches throughout Rochester from the back of a van. The organization formally incorporated in 2013 with a mission to provide social services to the broader upstate New York community, serving both Muslims and non-Muslims alike — regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or creed.

To fulfill this mission, Barakah set out to provide food, shelter, clothing, free medical assistance, elderly care, and financial support to families in need. In partnership with Foodlink, it began distributing food from the parking lot of a vacant building at 15 Hudson Avenue. A generous local business owner then offered his vacant store at 450 North Street to support Barakah's growing operations. From there, the organization expanded to include a backpack drive and a winter coat drive alongside its food distribution efforts.

Through the generosity of the community, Barakah was able to purchase and renovate the former SWAN building at 584 Jefferson Avenue, where it has been based ever since. When acquired, the building barely had a roof, drywall, flooring, or a functioning heating and cooling system. Local volunteers and handymen stepped up to make it operational at a reasonable cost. With Foodlink's assistance, a commercial kitchen was established, enabling Barakah to offer hot meals to the community. The additional space allowed the organization to expand into refugee services, and the open interior became a gathering place for various community events.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Barakah was the only food pantry that remained open in the neighborhood — an effort that was recognized with a commendation from the Governor .In 2024, through a grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, Barakah launched a reentry program to help formerly incarcerated individuals rebuild their lives. The following year, it partnered with the City of Rochester to participate in the Neighborhood Ambassador Program, addressing the local opioid crisis.

For many years, Barakah operated out of a building with a leaking roof, broken floors, and inadequate heating and cooling. In 2025, thanks to a New York State grant secured with the support of Senator Cooney, Barakah was able to install a new roof, new flooring, and an updated HVAC system. The organization also acquired the land behind its building, establishing a community garden and, through a grant from RIT, an open-air calisthenics facility to promote the health and well-being of the community.

Today, Barakah stands as an essential institution in the Jefferson Avenue corridor, continuing to improve the lives of those it serves.