VOA常速英语2014--穆斯林慈善组织在华盛顿郊区蓬勃发展

Muslim-run Charity Thrives in Washington Suburb 穆斯林慈善组织在华盛顿郊区蓬勃发展

HERNDON, VIRGINIA —

In a sleepy suburb of Washington, D.C., a Muslim-run charity is thriving as it serves a diverse community and helps those in need. 

In downtown Herndon, Virginia, a mother and two children are receiving help from this food pantry run by an organization called “FAITH,” short for “the Foundation for Appropriate and Immediate¹ Temporary Help.

弗吉尼亚州赫恩登市中心,一位母亲和两个孩子正在接受食品分发处发放的救济，这是由一个被称为“信仰”的组织所运营,它的全称是适时即刻救助基金会。

About 800 to 1,000 people come to the food pantry for help every month.FAITH was officially founded in 1999 and has grown to become a viable² part of the Herndon community, supported by staff and volunteers. Its programs are aimed at empowering people to get out of poverty.

每个月大约有800到1000人会来到这个食品分发处寻求帮助。于1999年正式成立的信仰组织在工作人员和志愿者的帮助支持下壮大并且已经成为赫恩登社区不可或缺的一部分。其运营宗旨就在于帮助人们摆脱贫困。

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"We have an intake³ process where we evaluate the situation of the client. And then from that evaluation⁴ and research,then we make our plan with the client:how are they going to change their situation? So we are actually trying to help the client change their situation. We are not maintaining them in the same place. We want them to be proactive.

“我们的过程是这样,首先会评估客户的情况。然后根据评估和研究为客户制订计划:他们如何改变自身状况?所以我们实际上是试图帮助客户改变他们的处境。我们不是让他们一直原地不动。我们希望他们变得积极。

Tanveer Mirza, one of the founders⁵ of FAITH, says the organization was founded on the principles of helping⁶ others regardless of their religious background.

该组织创始人之一的特瓦尔·米雷萨表示信仰的原则是建立在帮助别人基础上而不管宗教背景如何。

"The thing is we are here, and everybody here is our neighbor and we live together, and that's the teaching of Islam, to serve everyone who is in need and who is your neighbor. So that's where we took our inspiration from.

“事情是我们在这里,在这里的每个人都是我们的邻居,我们一起生活,这是伊斯兰教传达给我们的宗旨,帮助每个需要的人,帮助你的邻居。所以这就是我们的灵感来源。

Other than the food pantry, residents also visit the FAITH thrift⁷ store. Unique to this thrift store is the selection of garments from various cultures, donated by local residents. But there are also new items sold here, such as these in-line skates, donated by stores.

除了食品分发处,居民也会去逛逛信心组织的旧货店。这一商店的独特之处在于由当地居民所捐赠的充满了各种不同文化的商品。但也有新的商品在这里贩卖,比如这些商店所捐赠的轮式溜冰鞋。

"Clothes or something for the house, like for the kitchen, or some toys for the kids. And sometimes to send for my family in my country, in Mexico.

“居家衣服什么的,还有厨房用品,或者是为孩子们准备的一些玩具。有时是在我的祖国墨西哥的家人送过来的东西。”

With the support of volunteers, local officials and business owners, FAITH has been able to serve a constantly growing community.

在志愿者，当地官员和企业主的支持下,信仰组织能够为这样一个不断壮大的社区服务。

1 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

2 viable   

adj.可行的，切实可行的，能活下去的

参考例句：

• The scheme is economically viable.这个计划从经济效益来看是可行的。
• The economy of the country is not viable.这个国家经济是难以维持的。

3 intake   

n.吸入，纳入；进气口，入口

参考例句：

• Reduce your salt intake.减少盐的摄入量。
• There was a horrified intake of breath from every child.所有的孩子都害怕地倒抽了一口凉气。

4 evaluation   

n.估价，评价；赋值

参考例句：

• I attempted an honest evaluation of my own life.我试图如实地评价我自己的一生。
• The new scheme is still under evaluation.新方案还在评估阶段。

5 founders   

n.创始人( founder的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He was one of the founders of the university's medical faculty. 他是该大学医学院的创建人之一。 来自辞典例句
• The founders of our religion made this a cornerstone of morality. 我们宗教的创始人把这看作是道德的基石。 来自辞典例句

6 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

7 thrift   

adj.节约，节俭；n.节俭，节约

参考例句：

• He has the virtues of thrift and hard work.他具备节俭和勤奋的美德。
• His thrift and industry speak well for his future.他的节俭和勤勉预示着他美好的未来。