DURING RAMADAN and daily prayer, the Evergreen Islamic Center in San Jose offers a place for spiritual reflection. It also provides a community hub, voting center and supportive services from food to health care.
The center is unique in that it not only provides a food pantry and food distribution, it also offers free medical and dental services for uninsured people. Several grants have enabled the center to accomplish this health care feat. It received $150,000 from nonprofit Islamic Relief, $90,000 from the California Association of Free Clinics and $50,000 from CVS, Chief Medical Officer Aifra Ahmed told San José Spotlight. The center’s annual operating budget for health and dental services is $50,000.
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“A big part of our faith is charity,” Faisal Yazadi, former board president for the Evergreen Islamic Center, told San José Spotlight, adding the center donates annually to numerous causes such as natural disaster aid, libraries, teacher organizations and Second Harvest of Silicon Valley food bank.
During the CalFresh benefit delays last year, the center saw a significant increase of people needing help — and it hasn’t let up. Board President Saqib Hassan told San José Spotlight the center has seen an almost 50% increase in food assistance as inflation continues to rise.
A steady stream of cars encircles the center every first Saturday of the month to pick up packages of rice, flour, sugar and oil. The food pantry also includes pasta, legumes, fruit, vegetables and hygiene supplies.
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The Evergreen Islamic Center in San Jose provides a food pantry and food distribution services for people in need. (Photo courtesy Evergreen Islamic Center via San José Spotlight)
What started with serving about 50 families has grown to approximately 135. The center distributed 30,453 pounds of food at a cost of $46,632 last year, according to Jawed Iqbal, operations team member. The center spends about $175 every month on the food pantry, with community members contributing most of the items.
“Food is getting expensive, especially for people who … don’t have much to spare,” Iqbal told San José Spotlight. “It gives them some help … something they can rely on.”
Health services are offered on Sundays by a large rotating staff of volunteers, including medical and dental professionals. The health care component provides primary care consultations, physical therapy, OBGYN care, psychiatry, basic lab work and medication. The Evergreen Islamic Center contracts with APPNA Community Health Center for its medical volunteers.
More than 650 patients have received services at the free clinic between 2020, when the health clinic first opened, through 2025. Yazadi said that equates to $1 million. The center also refers patients to specialists and surgeons.
Dr. Mubasher Rana said patients receive care they otherwise might go without.
“We try to do everything that we possibly can to help them,” he told San José Spotlight. “They’re very appreciative because it’s very hard, especially for people who don’t have insurance to navigate the system.”
Resident Hamza Khan, who previously brought his mother to the center for medical care, came by himself on Feb. 22 to see the dentist. He said being able to access medical and dental care without a fee is incredibly helpful for his family.
“It means that we won’t have to go through the hospital,” he told San José Spotlight. “And for folks that do not have health insurance, the community trying to help us this way means a lot. We have family that volunteer here as doctors as well, so we are part of both sides of the cycle.”
Khan said his mother received good service despite the clinic being crowded with patients waiting to be seen.
Evergreen Islamic Center board members said the center’s health care services are open to all uninsured people. (Lorraine Gabbert/San José Spotlight)
“They were really helpful, really organized and they got us in on time,” he said. “And they followed up as well.”
Dr. Nazish Mir said the center started offering dental services last year, including exams, X-rays, cleanings, preventative screenings and referrals.
“Dental services are pretty expensive,” she told San José Spotlight. “We do have other bigger community health clinics around. The problem is, they are completely overbooked. And for somebody in pain or needing some antibiotics for an infection, the ER is the only choice and we all know ERs are overburdened. Helping them with basic stuff helps them down the line to avoid bigger problems.”
The center’s resident scholar, Imam Sami Rehman, said it is a place where residents come for healing, as well as spiritual well-being.
“I had somebody come to me after the morning prayer,” he told San José Spotlight. “He was having a very difficult time in his marriage. He just needed someone to talk to. I’ve firsthand seen the direct impact of services that are provided here … directly affecting the lives of both the Muslim and non-Muslim community here every day.”
The center’s annual Grand Iftar, a large community gathering held during Ramadan to break the fast, will be held from 7-8:15 p.m. on March 8 at 2486 Ruby Ave. in San Jose.
Contact Lorraine Gabbert at lorrainegabbertsjspotlight@gmail.com.