GARDEN GROVE, Calif. — Hoping to "serve the Creator by serving others," Muslim American Society’s Orange County Youth program assembled 100 backpacks filled with necessary school supplies aimed to aid underprivileged southland students.

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Ever since we were kids, nearly every mosque we went to, we saw basketball courts. And on the weekends, rarely were the courts empty. To this day, the younger generations keep this image alive.

HAWTHORNE, Calif. – The falafel, samosas, tabouli, baklawa and hummus were spread out on a long table next to the chocolate chip cookies and potato chips. This is how many southern California mosques welcomed visitors during Open Mosque Day on Aug. 17, organized by the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California.

SAN DIEGO – The Muslim American Society’s San Diego chapter held its first annual fundraising dinner banquet on Aug. 9. More than 300 area Muslims turned out to support the organization’s comprehensive agenda for increased community involvement.

GARDEN GROVE, Calif. — "One of the nice things to see about this mosque is the way that you have adopted Garden Grove and the way Garden Grove has adopted you," Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), told a crowd of more than 100 Muslims and non-Muslims during a luncheon at the Islamic Society of Orange County just before the call to Friday prayers on Aug. 22.