Hot meals 4 Starved #Palestinian Kids in #NorthGaza
Update on #Fundraiser, July 4th, 2024 by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer
"This week was another busy one for us, starting in North Gaza where food is becoming scarcer and more expensive. We have cooked every single day this week and made a few hearty meals: dishes heavy on rice and bread, pasta, and maftool, as well as traditional dips like romanya and the traditional pastry made in the historic Palestinian town of Almjadal. Just think about this: a pound of rice is about five dollars, and each of these big pots we use takes 45 to 50 pounds, not to mention the seasonings and cooking oil, which is now being used to fuel cars because gas is not allowed in. Not even the hospitals have fuel to operate their emergency rooms. My sister dropped off food at the Indonesian Hospital yesterday, and she had to feel her way around the room. Two days before that, it was the same situation at Kamal Adwan Hospital, also in the north. Our family had intended to deliver meals to Gaza City at the Baptist Hospital, but we were told the army is not too far from there, so we chose a different hospital out of an abundance of caution.
"The kitchen in the north has increased its output to cover at least 700 families between the women-led kitchen and the original one. That's conservatively 3,000 people. Additionally, we handed out two dozen food parcels and fresh bread just yards away from the soup kitchen; those went to elderly people and folks who don't usually benefit from the soup kitchen. I’ve come to appreciate how much pride my two siblings take in their work. Chefs Faten and Mahmoud get together every night to plan the following day's menu based on what's available locally and what the locals like. For example, they made Palestinian maftool today and must have used six 50-pound bags of flour to feed the local hunger and ensure that families have a hot meal that is high quality. It costs a lot to serve quality meals that preserve people's dignity. It's a labor of love.
"This week, we sent more than $25,000 to cover all our operations, which include filtered water distribution in three different parts of the #GazaStrip, food parcels, and three bustling soup kitchens. The crew in North Gaza has at least 20 staff, all locals, all people we know, and all people who have lost family members or their homes or both. It has become like a support group for these workers who would not miss a day. Chef Mahmoud had asked three women to take a day off, and they still showed up to work to see the other women. We told him never to do that; we just gave them a makeshift oven and let them bake saaj bread that he can give to people, and now that's what we do. There were a few things we helped with in the north, like getting a boy corrective glasses and some medications for an elderly person who didn’t have the money to buy them.
"Furthermore, the Gaza #SoupKitchen North provided two different families with additional meals of mercy due to having death in the family, one death directly caused by the occupation, a little boy and another death of an elderly woman who passed due to poor health care caused to current conditions.
"Moving to Deir el-Balah, the kitchen made two stews today: one molokhia (the green one) and the other fasolya (white bean). For the past days, we have been making rice and pasta and wanted to change the pace. The day before, our crew of 12 people at the south kitchen baked some zaatar pastries and handed the kids some chocolate or fruit milk to give them some much-needed nutrition. Our kitchen there serves 250 families now and daily gives 300 families drinking water. The crew is coming together well as a few members moved around to Khan Younes, but those folks help us give water there to 600 families a day, something we have been gladly doing for more than two months now. Each water truck costs us around 150 to 200 dollars, which is so worth it.
"We also did water distribution in the north, where my dad helps us. He chooses the areas with the most need and makes sure everyone gets at least a container. He sometimes hands out snacks to the kids as well.
"I feel comfortable working with the crew, and they receive feedback and really get the job done. I know they are not doing okay in any sense of the word, but you enable them to do this work and give them a purpose to wake up every morning and help themselves and countless others. Because you care, we have sustained this operation for five straight months, and we will keep at it until we don't have to. This is our commitment, and I thank you for sticking by us and continuing to talk about #Palestine.
In awe of all of you,
Hani"
https://www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-in-gaza-daily
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