#chefmahmoud — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #chefmahmoud, aggregated by home.social.
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#GazaSoupKitchen Update
August 10, 2026 by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer
"Dear friends, allies, and supporters,
This is my note to you. I like to check in every now and then, and as you have come to know, these messages are where I speak directly from the heart.
Many of you let me know how much you appreciate these updates, so first off—thank you. Thank you for being here, for your patience, and for walking this heavy road with us. You put your heart and your resources into this work, and you make every single day of survival possible.
As you can imagine, living and working in #Gaza right now means navigating a strange, tense age of hoping to see real peace. On the ground, we have felt a reduction in constant air strikes compared to past months, but there is no commitment or guarantee that the bombing is truly over. We made no mistake in hearing the news this week when Prime Minister #Netanyahu made it clear he does not support the 15-point peace plan authored by the President of the United States. The political reality remains deeply painful, but while politicians stall, you and I continue to act.
Here is a quick, direct update on the relief and programs your generosity is powering on the ground today:
- The Orphan Learning Academy: Today, we held a small celebration for the children with face painting and pizza. Seeing their smiles in the photos was just heartwarming. This small initiative gives these kids a sanctuary—a place to belong, to laugh, and to learn. We currently serve at least 50 children who are missing one or both parents. As you will tell us, navigating a genocide without a mother or father nearby is an unimaginable burden. While caretakers step in, nothing replaces the embrace of a parent, and giving these kids a moment of peace means everything.
- #KhanYunis Learning Center: Miss Fatma is still teaching four days a week, bringing around 40 children together each session for English, math, and basic education. She constantly brings them small treats out of her own pocket, inspiring them to keep learning, keep growing, and keep their young minds engaged.
- #FrontlineMedicalCare: Our medical point continues to treat an average of 60 patients every single day. Dr. Majd—our doctor who is brave enough to work right on the yellow line—is an absolute gift. Her courage, skill, and deep care under extreme conditions keep our entire team hopeful. On top of this, our hospital meal distribution continues steadily as planned, delivering at least 250 hot meals daily across two different hospitals to support patients, medical staff, and families in care.
- #Water Distribution: We have now scaled up to 14 water trucks running daily, bringing clean water all the way from #Rafah in the south to Mashru' #BeitLahiya in the north. Access to clean water haunts me constantly as I see desperate families forced to decide whether to buy a loaf of bread or a gallon of water. Because of your commitment, our team doesn't hesitate—when a neighborhood needs water, they make the call and send the truck. Trucking water is a relatively inexpensive way to save lives, with fuel being our primary cost.
- #CommunityKitchens: We are now operating 25 kitchens spanning from #Mawasi and Rafah all the way to #Mashru' Beit Lahiya. Rather than opening new sites, several kitchens have expanded, with some now providing hot meals for up to 1,500 people a day (averaging about 1,000 per kitchen). Food exists in local markets, but because people have lost their jobs and livelihoods, buying it is nearly impossible. Despite severe banking disruptions, fluctuating prices, and daily insecurities, your support keeps these stoves burning.
One thing we are closely watching this week is market volatility: produce prices went up by about 10%. We aren't entirely sure what to make of this shift just yet or if it's a temporary spike. For now, we are keeping our food packages and portions exactly as they are, but if this price surge continues, we may have to make a few operational trade-offs to keep expanding our reach.- Targeted #FoodParcels: Alongside our daily meals, we produce targeted lists to serve specific groups. Last week, we focused on homemakers. This week, based on a direct request from the local community, we pledged to register and serve 1,500 people across two categories: the elderly and newlywed couples. This is on top of our evergreen support for nursing mothers, expecting moms, and workers who have lost their income.
Remember, you pay for all of this. You make this life-saving work possible, and you deserve every shout-out there is.
I’ll be the first to admit that I often feel small in the face of such massive hardship. But I want you to know that as long as we have the resources you provide, we will keep cooking, trucking water, and dispatching aid. The moment we start worrying about resources, as you can imagine, is the moment we speak up and ask for help.
Please keep sharing our work, commenting, and spreading the word. Speak out first against the ongoing injustice, and then share the tangible, life-saving solutions that you and I are creating together on the ground.
Thank you for being here with us.
Hani "
FMI and to donate:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-in-gaza-daily#ForcedRelocation #GazaCity #KhanYounes #NorthGaza #GazaAid #GazaFundraisers #FreePalestine #Fundraisers #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #GoFundMe #BaitLahiya #KhanYounes #Palestine #Genocide #Starvation #IsraeliWarCrimes #NorthernGaza
Remember #ChefMahmoud
#HumanRightsAreNeverWrong #IsraeliWarCrimes #BibiIsAWarCriminal #USAIDCuts #HumanitarianZones -
#GazaSoupKitchen Update
July 7, 2026 by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer
"Hi friends, Salam, and Greetings,
First, thank you for being the bright light that keeps our kitchens burning. When people ask me why we keep fighting so hard, it’s because of what you are making possible on the ground. I see the impact in photos from my desk, but our team carries the joy of these families in their hearts every single day. Please, tell your friends and your children about your connection to Gaza through the Gaza Soup Kitchen. Let them know how you chose to lift an entire community when things were at their absolute darkest.
Let me tell you a quick story from earlier this week. One of our chefs sent over a photo of a little boy standing outside our site with an empty metal pot, giving him a massive fist bump. This little guy had actually beaten the chef to the kitchen. When asked why, he smiled and said he wanted to make sure the chef saw him first so he wouldn't have to wait in a massive line later. That boy, with his empty pot and his hope, is exactly where your generosity lands.
Because you stand behind us, our team just opened Kitchen Number 24 late last week in Tel El Hawa. It used to be a posh neighborhood, but the families there are struggling now and reached out to ask us for a hot kitchen. Because of your support, we said yes. We immediately hired local heads of households who were desperate for work to staff it. Every single one of our 24 kitchens operates independently—the local teams decide what to cook based on what their specific neighbors need. And because the summer heat is completely brutal right now, your funding allowed us to add 4 more water trucks to our fleet to keep these neighborhoods hydrated and safe from heat illness.
Look at what you’ve helped our teams accomplish over the last month alone:
* Over 10,000 canisters of baby formula and diapers successfully distributed to registered families and makeshift camps.
* An average of 60 patients treated daily at our medical point—the northernmost lifeline still operating in the area.
* Two wide-open learning centers where kids show up with clean clothes and combed hair, a beautiful testament to the resilience of their parents.It breaks my heart that the Gaza Soup Kitchen has become a household name where thousands look to us just to register for basic survival parcels, but your support allows us to carry that heavy responsibility. We are using our online system to find the people everyone else forgets. Three weeks ago, we did a targeted distribution for local lifeguards. Two weeks ago, it was day laborers who can't find work. Last week, it was the healthcare workers and kindergarten teachers who have essentially been volunteering for free. This week, we are using your funds to deliver directly to the sanitation workers and hospital janitors—the invisible heroes keeping the shelters clean.
Our flexible initiative teams are moving just as fast. This week, they rushed fresh fruits, veggies, and clothing to newly displaced families. Down in Rafah, the team set up a station making slushies and cotton candy, just to give the kids a few minutes to feel like kids again. In the Middle Area, we managed to break into a totally isolated community we had never been able to reach before.
We are pushing forward because the news out here is getting darker. We heard talk this week about plans to rebrand camps into "#HumanitarianZones" to forcibly relocate #Palestinians. It is a terrifying, dystopian strategy that heavily mirrors what the US did to Japanese-Americans during WWII, or the strategic hamlets in Vietnam.
I see a few diplomatic moves on the horizon that give me a sliver of optimism, but my deepest fear is that this prolonged status quo will just stretch on. We will see what the next few weeks bring. But no matter what, I choose to remain hopeful because I see what you do for us every single day.
Gaza holds a permanent place in our hearts, and you are helping us keep that heart beating.
Thank you for choosing to be here with us.
Hani"
To donate:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-in-gaza-daily#ForcedRelocation #GazaCity #KhanYounes #NorthGaza #GazaAid #GazaFundraisers #FreePalestine #Fundraisers #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #GoFundMe #BeitLahiya #BaitLahiya #KhanYounes #Palestine #Genocide #Starvation #IsraeliWarCrimes #NorthernGaza
Remember #ChefMahmoud
#HumanRightsAreNeverWrong #IsraeliWarCrimes #BibiIsAWarCriminal -
#GazaSoupKitchen Update
April 5, 2026 by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer
"Today is my birthday, and I wanted to share this note with you.
This week felt special.
We expanded. Two new kitchens came online—one in the south, in #Rafah, along the coast, in that narrow sliver of land that Palestinians in Gaza can still access. The other is in central Gaza, in the Middle Area, serving a camp known as #AlQuds.
People are grateful—not just for the meals, but for the fact that we are still here. Many initiatives and charities slowed down or closed after Ramadan. We didn’t.
This brings us to fifteen kitchens in operation, along with two additional contracted sites supporting hospital meal programs. We are now covering four hospitals, from #KhanYounes to #GazaCity. Because of you, we are not just reacting—we are positioned to do more, and to keep showing up.
Our water trucks are still moving, delivering fresh drinking water to communities that have nowhere else to turn. Our two learning centers continue to grow, with one now serving more than fifty students—children holding on to some sense of normalcy.
On the ground, our team has doubled down. We’ve increased field visits and continued distributing modified food parcels directly to tents and shelters.
Today, we also reopened registration.
We received requests from two groups. The first: new families who have not benefited from our work before. We registered 750 families, though after verification, we expect to serve around 500.
The second: 3,000 families signed up for a lighter food parcel. A small package—but for many, it matters.
I don’t think any of us imagined we would be here this long.
The absence of headlines does not mean the absence of suffering. The trauma continues. The conditions persist. And people are still being lost—every day. It is deeply unfair.
But here’s what I hold on to: you and I are doing something. It may feel small in the face of so much, but it is real. It is constant. And it reaches people who would otherwise be left with nothing.
In more personal news, I’ve submitted a manuscript to several publishing houses. It’s a book about the Gaza Soup Kitchen—our losses, the community we’ve built together, and the relief efforts you’ve made possible. It will take time, and I don’t expect much financially from it, but it feels important to document this chapter—truthfully and with care. If any of you are connected to literary agents or publishers, I would be grateful for a conversation.
I hope those of you who observed Passover or Easter found moments of peace and reflection as this holy season comes to a close.
Thank you for standing with us—not just in moments of urgency, but in the long, quiet stretch that follows.
We are still here.
In solidarity,
Hani"To donate:
https://www.
gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-in-gaza-daily#NorthGaza #GazaAid #GazaFundraisers #FreePalestine #Fundraisers #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #GoFundMe #BeitLahiya #BaitLahiya #KhanYounes #Palestine #Genocide #Starvation #IsraeliWarCrimes #NorthernGaza
Remember #ChefMahmoud
#HumanRightsAreNeverWrong #IsraeliWarCrimes #BibiIsAWarCriminal -
#GazaSoupKitchen Update
March 15, 2026 by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer
"Friends, supporters, allies —
Tonight is Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Power, and I wanted to share a personal update from the last ten days here at the Gaza Soup Kitchen. I hope you’ll read this as a conversation, because that’s what this work is: real people, real families, real moments, not just numbers or logistics.
A lot of people aren’t paying close attention to #Gaza right now, and that’s understandable. People here don’t want to always be in the news. But they also don’t want to suffer in silence.
Silence, right now, looks like this: in March alone, food prices in Gaza rose by at least 37%, and they continue to climb. A small piece of clothing for a child for Eid can cost $60, when the same item might sell for $20 elsewhere. Aid has slowed, deliveries cut to a fraction of what they were — 80 trucks a day instead of 250–300. Prices spike, families struggle, and every day is harder than the last.
For our team, this means every meal costs more. Every food parcel is more expensive. But we refuse to compromise. The meals we serve in hospitals continue to include animal protein because families here have already been forced into mostly vegetarian diets for far too long. Nutrition, dignity, and care matter — even if it’s harder or more expensive to provide.
Running the kitchen is exhausting. Driving across Gaza to coordinate deliveries. Writing updates and responding to emails. Balancing logistics with compassion. There’s no real gain here, no profit, no easy path. The only reason we keep showing up is because it is needed, because the people we serve are counting on us, and because the smiles, the laughter, the moments of joy — even amid hardship — are worth everything.
During Ramadan, one of the things we’ve done is host communal iftars. Elderly folks gather, laugh, tease each other, sometimes even play small games. For a few hours, they feel lighter, younger, alive in a way that the day-to-day challenges can’t take away.
Today, we hosted a special program for children who are orphaned or separated from their parents. We brought live characters to dance and sing with them, set up face painting, served food — and yes, even cotton candy. These little touches are not easy, not cheap, but they bring joy and dignity in a situation that is otherwise incredibly difficult.
Everything we do is family-first. Mothers, sisters, daughters, brothers cook as they would for their own families. Portions go home just like they would in a family kitchen. We never compromise on quality, because the people we serve deserve the care we would want for our own families. Our name is on this work because it is personal, not commercial.
Looking ahead, we are planning a few changes to make our work even more effective. We’ll slightly reduce the size of some food parcels to expand the number of kitchens we operate. We’ll expand our hospital meal programs — right now we serve two hospitals, and after Ramadan we hope to serve at least three. Food parcels are important, but hot meals reach the families and children most in need, where hunger is visible, urgent, and unavoidable.
During Ramadan, we delivered around 35,000 food parcels — a massive effort — but still only about 10% of Gaza’s population. That’s a small fraction of the need. So we focus on where every dollar is spent wisely: hot kitchens, hospital meals, clean water deliveries, and programs that bring dignity and care.
This Ramadan, there is also something deeply meaningful that fills us with pride and hope. We’ve seen mosques raising funds for the Gaza Soup Kitchen, collectives of rabbis from Ceasefire, and even a few churches around the country coming together to support families in Gaza. Moments like these remind us of the good in humanity, of the ways people reach across divides to care for others. It’s a badge of honor to witness it — and a reminder that, even in the hardest times, kindness persists.
This work is exhausting, yes. It can make you cry. It can make you smile in the same moment. But it is also deeply human. The smiles on children’s faces. The laughter of elders at iftar. Families receiving a parcel that truly sustains them. These moments remind us why we keep showing up, day after day, even when it’s hard.
And none of this would be possible without you — your trust, your generosity, your willingness to stand with Gaza when the world’s attention shifts elsewhere. Every meal, every parcel, every program is made possible by your support. You make it possible for us to keep showing up for people who need it most.
From all of us here, with deep gratitude and respect for the resilience of the communities we serve: thank you. Thank you for being part of this family. Thank you for helping us hold space for dignity, care, and humanity in the hardest of circumstances.
With gratitude and heart,
Hani and the Board of the Gaza Soup Kitchen"To donate:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-in-gaza-daily#NorthGaza #GazaAid #GazaFundraisers #FreePalestine #Fundraisers #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #GoFundMe #BeitLahiya #BaitLahiya #KhanYounes #Palestine #Genocide #Starvation #IsraeliWarCrimes #NorthernGaza
Remember #ChefMahmoud
#HumanRightsAreNeverWrong #IsraeliWarCrimes #BibiIsAWarCriminal -
#GazaSoupKitchen Update
February 9, 2026 by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer
"Dear friends and allies,
There is a lot I want to share with you, and as always, I want you to see clearly what your support is making possible on the ground.
Last week we purchased 4,500 kilos of apples to include in food parcels for registered families. Shortly after our purchase, the market price increased by nearly 30 percent. #Gaza’s markets are extremely sensitive right now — supplies remain limited, and when large humanitarian programs buy in bulk, the impact can be felt quickly. We saw something similar six weeks ago when we purchased thousands of cartons of eggs and again when we prepared large meal kits in December. Because of this, we try to move carefully and responsibly so that our purchases do not unintentionally make food harder for others in the community to afford. Your support allows us the flexibility to make these thoughtful decisions rather than rushing distributions when prices spike.
#Ramadan is approaching, and we are preparing to register 50,000 families for at least one round of Ramadan food parcels. Each parcel costs about $25 and includes essential staples, with olive oil currently being the most expensive item. At the same time, this week we are completing another distribution for 4,000 patients who were registered last week. By the end of tomorrow, each of them will have received their parcel — including fresh apples that many families have not been able to afford for months.
Recently, we also carried out several special distributions. One was dedicated to amputees, where we provided solar-powered lighting systems so families can safely move inside their tents at night. Another focused on the elderly: about 1,500 seniors received kitchen water sets that allow them to prepare meals more easily during Ramadan. These smaller, targeted interventions are often the ones families remember most, because they directly respond to what people themselves request.
Even when operations appear 'quiet,' our teams are working every single day. We hand-deliver aid to roughly 500 families daily — baby formula, diapers, food parcels, or winter clothing — depending on what is most urgently needed. Across 14 kitchen locations, meals continue to be prepared and served, including meals delivered directly to hospitals. And every morning, ten water trucks travel from #KhanYounes to #BeitLahia, delivering clean drinking water. When we say 'we deliver water,' it means drivers starting before sunrise, filling trucks, traveling long distances through damaged roads, and reaching neighborhoods where families line up with containers because that delivery may be their only safe water that day.
Our medical point in the north serves about 70 patients daily, and most leave with free prescription refills made possible by you. We now also operate two learning centers — one in #NorthGaza serving orphaned children, currently with 20 students and expanding to 40 after Ramadan, and another in Khan Younes serving displaced children who continue their education despite extremely difficult conditions. These programs may seem small, but they create stability for children who have lost nearly everything.
As our work grows, we continue improving operations, training staff, and sometimes making difficult adjustments so that every donated dollar reaches as many people as possible. We also occasionally encounter a few anonymous online claims or misinformation, which is common in humanitarian work today, but we remain focused on transparency and on letting the results of the work speak for themselves.
Ramadan and equally Lent are a season of generosity, reflection, and shared responsibility. If our work continues to earn your trust, one of the most meaningful ways you can help is simply by sharing our story, telling others what you see happening through these updates, and keeping Gaza’s families in your conversations and your giving. Many supporters tell us they first learned about the Gaza Soup Kitchen because someone they trusted mentioned it — your voice carries real impact.
Keep in mind we now have three different aid distribution sites in Khan Younes, #AlZawaydah and #GazaCity. And tomorrow we are in #Rafah as we promised the community there to be physically among them at least once a month. We are proud of what you will read next.
Ninety-nine percent of donations go directly to Gaza programs. I do not take a salary from the Gaza Soup Kitchen, and many of our volunteers give extraordinary hours because they believe in what this community is building together. You are not just donors; you are partners in every meal served, every water delivery completed, and every family reached.
With gratitude and humility,
HaniP.S. In recent days we spoke live on the Dean Obeidallah Show on SiriusXM, with BBC, and at several community gatherings in the United States. During Ramadan I expect to be in Ann Arbor, Salt Lake City, San Diego, and possibly Dallas. If your community would like to host us, please let us know — we would be honored to meet you."
To donate:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-in-gaza-daily#NorthGaza #GazaAid #GazaFundraisers #FreePalestine #Fundraisers #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #GoFundMe #BeitLahiya #BaitLahiya #KhanYounes #Palestine #Genocide #Starvation #IsraeliWarCrimes #NorthernGaza
Remember #ChefMahmoud
#HumanRightsAreNeverWrong #IsraeliWarCrimes #BibiIsAWarCriminal -
#GazaSoupKitchen Update
January 8, 2026 by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer
"Dear friends, allies, and partners in good,
In the last two days of 2025, the #Gaza Soup Kitchen opened its 14th location. Since then, it has been running strong. And yet, every time I think about expanding kitchens in Gaza, I don’t feel a sense of achievement. It feels like a setback for humanity.
Every meal we serve matters—but the growth of these kitchens is a painful measure of how far things have fallen. No amount of coordination, care, or sacrifice can change the truth: this is emergency survival, not dignity.
I keep coming back to the real goal we’ve always had: not to add kitchens, but to close them. Success, to me, looks like people back in their homes, cooking for their children, rather than standing in line for a meal.
What worries me most is the next generation. Children growing up in aid lines instead of classrooms, learning to ration far too early. I think of the Nakba generation, who built lives and institutions out of ruins. That same #Palestinian spirit is here—but under enormous strain. Resilience isn’t endless, and it shouldn’t be romanticized. People were never meant to live like this.
And yet, that spirit persists—in neighbors sharing crumbs, teachers refusing to stop teaching, people showing up for each other when almost nothing remains. That matters. I feel it deeply.
But care alone is not enough. Soup kitchens are a bridge, not a future. The true measure of progress isn’t how well we manage hunger, but how soon we make it unnecessary.
Our Impact Today
We are serving communities across the #GazaStrip—from #KhanYounes in the south to #BeitLahia in the north. Our kitchens serve real, edible meals—not factory food lacking taste or flavor.
We now scale to serve up to 15,000 families per week.
This week, distributions included winter clothing, baby milk and diapers, food parcels, and hygiene and cleaning supplies.
Our most effective team is in #GazaCity.
The middle-area team in #DeirElBalah is facing space challenges and newer staff, but they are accelerating their distributions and solving logistical issues.
In addition to serving families who register online:
30% of our work happens outside the registration system, with teams dispatched daily to reach disconnected communities.
Water trucks continue to roll daily—about ten per day.
The medical point in Mashrou’ Beit Lahia sees 60–80 patients a day.
The classroom in Khan Younes is teaching 30 children daily, and we are preparing to launch an orphan learning center in Gaza City within two weeks.
Looking Forward
Ramadan is just weeks away, and we’re concerned that #Israel may limit the number of trucks again, as announced yesterday. This would affect #FoodAccess and increase costs—but for now, we are holding off from buying everything in the market prematurely.
What helps us most is sharing our videos, stories, and updates—engaging, commenting, and spreading awareness. If you can, consider becoming a monthly donor.
To give context:
Our daily operational costs have risen from $15,000/day to $30,000/day.
This page used to average $5,000/day in donations, now it’s under $2,000/day.
I hate asking for money, but as our team’s response grows, donations are not keeping pace. Your support is critical, and I hope you can help us think creatively about the future.
Thank you for being here. For every crumb shared, every child fed, and every story told, your partnership matters.
With deep gratitude,
Hani
Gaza Soup KitchenP. S. In other news, Israel hit two schools today where we run kitchens, there has been injuries and at least one fatality which is tragic, our staff are unharmed as they had just washed up and left for the day."
Donate:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-in-gaza-daily#NorthGaza #GazaAid #GazaFundraisers #FreePalestine #Fundraisers #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #GoFundMe #BeitLahiya #BaitLahiya #KhanYounes #Palestine #Genocide #Starvation #IsraeliWarCrimes #NorthernGaza
Remember #ChefMahmoud
#HumanRightsAreNeverWrong #IsraeliWarCrimes #BibiIsAWarCriminal -
#GazaSoupKitchen Update
December 4, 2025 by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer
"Hey friends,
It’s been a whirlwind here at the Gaza Soup Kitchen, and I just had to stop for a minute to tell you what’s going on. Things are moving fast, we’re running full tilt, and I’ve been terrible about sharing updates—but I promise, this one’s worth it.
We’ve now got 12 kitchens up and running, with a 13th coming soon. About half are in the middle and south, half in North Gaza. Right now, we’re focusing on the north to encourage families to return home, which also helps relieve the pressure on middle areas where resources are stretched to the max.
Every day, our kitchens serve around 200 families. Each meal costs about $5, a food parcel $25–$30, a blanket $25–$30, a water truck $200, and a winter clothing package $25. Seeing a family open a parcel, unwrap a blanket, or try on a winter jacket is worth every penny and every pot we can find—and yes, finding enough giant pots in Gaza is a story all its own.
Recently, we wrapped up a women’s winter clothing drive for 5,000 women. Honestly, I had no idea there were so many sizes, colors, and styles—it gave me a headache—but the smiles made every challenge worth it. Kids’ winter clothing is coming up next, and we’re ready to make more small miracles happen.
We’ve got about 80 amazing humans working on the ground, doing everything from cooking meals, assembling parcels, delivering water, and running classrooms—yes, classrooms—while the medical point in northern Gaza keeps saving lives on the frontlines. I check in with them weekly, and every time, I leave reminded of how much love and energy people can pour into a day.
Here’s the fun part: you can get creative this year. Want to give an alternative Christmas gift? You can give a food parcel, a blanket, or a winter clothing set in someone’s name. You can find the Gaza Soup Kitchen on many giving platforms, and we can also accept stock donations, IRA gifts, and other surprises. You’ll be giving something that truly matters and might even make you feel a little sparkly inside.
We are dipping into reserves because donations have slowed since the ceasefire—but knowing people like you are out there keeps us going. Follow us, comment, share, or just send a little cheer our way online—every interaction reminds families they’re not forgotten.
Sending love and solidarity from Gaza. Soon, I’ll be on the road visiting Houston and San Diego—coffee’s on me if you’re around. Thank you for being part of this messy, hard, beautiful, joyful journey. We literally couldn’t do it without you.
- Hani"
Donate: https://www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-in-gaza-daily
#NorthGaza #GazaAid #GazaFundraisers #FreePalestine #Fundraisers #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #GoFundMe #BeitLahiya #BaitLahiya #KhanYounes #Palestine #Genocide #Starvation #IsraeliWarCrimes #NorthernGaza
Remember #ChefMahmoud
#HumanRightsAreNeverWrong #IsraeliWarCrimes #BibiIsAWarCriminal -
✨ Update from Gaza Soup Kitchen ✨
November 3, 2025, by Gaza Soup Kitchen, Beneficiary
"Hello, and welcome — you have been missed. I hope you’ve been well. Let’s dive into an update and share a snapshot of the #GazaSoupKitchen’s work in Gaza.
We currently operate six kitchens serving the public — two in #KhanYounes, and four in the stretch between #AlZawaydah and #DeirElBalah. Additionally, we have a dedicated location in the #AlNaser neighborhood of Gaza City that prepares meals for hospitals.
Our work is supported by three mobile teams, each with a specific mission:
The first team visits hospitals, delivering fresh produce, care packages, clothing, and sometimes baby formula and diapers for newborns.
The second team goes directly into makeshift camps, showing up with whatever they can source — whether food or clothing — to meet the immediate needs of families living in extreme conditions.
The third team serves dinner at #AlShifaHospital, bringing baked goods and meals for about 100 patients every day.
Recently, we pivoted to blanket distribution. So far, we’ve distributed 200 blankets, with 300 more on hand, and our goal is to source at least 1,000 this month, getting them directly to families. Alongside blankets, we’ve added hygiene kits to support families’ basic needs.
Two days ago, we opened registration for families in need of food parcels, and we’ve already signed up 15,700 families across Gaza. Our goal is to distribute these within two and a half weeks. Each food parcel costs around $27, which covers staples; prices fluctuate between $60 and $179 depending on availability, making it especially challenging for families with no resources — which, unfortunately, is the case for most.
This is a massive effort, requiring a dedicated and resilient team. To enhance registration and distribution, we expanded the pickup locations from three to six, covering areas from #Rafah (#Mawasy) to the north of #GazaCity, with deliveries starting tomorrow. A guiding principle for us is simple: every dollar goes directly to helping people in Gaza. We don’t let bank accounts dictate our work; we tackle urgent needs head-on, and we’ve been incredibly fortunate to have your support.
Beyond food, we continue to run our classroom with Ms. Fatema, bringing children back to learning and growth. We also added a Play Therapy program, held every other day, helping 25 children engage in play, snacks, singing, and moments of pure childhood joy — something they desperately need to feel safe and free again.
On a broader note, I recently spoke in Philadelphia to a group of elderly Jewish citizens, a deeply humane and uplifting experience. Unlike my usual audiences of younger activists, this mature audience engaged with sincerity and care, reminding me how dialogue across generations and communities can be meaningful and inspiring.
On a personal level, expanding our work comes with emotional weight. Every week, thousands of families write to us asking for help. When they don’t hear back immediately, frustration turns into anger and, sometimes, insults. I understand their pain deeply, but processing it adds an extra layer of grief. And yet, we keep pressing forward, because the fire to serve and protect the vulnerable never goes out.
Thank you for being here and standing with us. Many have stepped away during the recent ceasefire, taking a chance to rest, but for us, the work cannot pause. Families remain hesitant to return to their homes in #BaitLahia, where the streets feel eerie and unsafe. Violence continues to flare from Israeli forces and some of their proxies who still appear in the area. The trauma lingers, the fear is real, and yet the people of Gaza persist.
It is far from over — and that’s why we keep showing up, delivering food, blankets, care, and hope. Together, we light a small beacon in the midst of unimaginable darkness.
P. S. We remain active in delivering clean drinking water trucks to different communities. We average eight to ten trucks daily."
Donate:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-in-gaza-daily#NorthGaza #GazaAid #GazaFundraisers #FreePalestine #Fundraisers #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #GoFundMe #BeitLahiya #BaitLahiya #KhanYounes #Palestine #Genocide #Starvation #IsraeliWarCrimes #NorthernGaza
Remember #ChefMahmoud
#HumanRightsAreNeverWrong #IsraeliWarCrimes #BibiIsAWarCriminal -
✨ Update from Gaza Soup Kitchen ✨
October 7th, 2025 by Hani Almadhoun, Organizer
"Dear friends,
The past two months have been intense — conference season, media engagements, live on ABC Prime News (link below), and a conversation with The New Arab. Through it all, Gaza has been front and center. I want to give you a clear look at what your support is making possible — and the scale of what remains to be done.
Gaza City:
Roughly 200,000 people are trapped in Gaza City, facing an unknown future. Every day, our teams push into neighborhoods that are cut off, even attempting water deliveries in extreme conditions. We advise them, we worry, but they refuse to leave — this is their home, and they have nothing left elsewhere. For their safety and the community’s, we keep their identities and locations secret, yet still ensure aid reaches those who need it most.Kitchens & Meals:
Across eight kitchens in the middle and south of Gaza, we are cooking eggplants, potatoes, traditional dishes, and pasta, serving hundreds of families daily. One kitchen alone reaches 500 families, and our teams keep pushing for extra water deliveries wherever possible. Prices are cooling slightly in the south, but in Gaza City, food costs are skyrocketing, and supplies are vanishing. We don’t pause — we keep delivering.Food Parcels & Care Packages:
Since our last update, we’ve delivered 25,000+ food parcels and care packages. Last month alone, your generosity put over $500,000 directly into Gaza to feed families, support hospitals, and sustain life under siege.We operate two flexible initiative teams:
1. Hospital Care Team: Prioritizing children suffering from acute malnutrition at Al-Aqsa Hospital.
2. Makeshift Community Team: Led by my mom and Alaa (Chef Mahmoud’s widow), delivering 30–50 care packages at a time to displaced families in makeshift communities — sometimes food, sometimes hygiene kits, always based on urgent need.
Transparency & Accountability:
We’ve been experimenting with open registration for food parcels in Gaza City. When we offered a link for 75 families, 233 families signed up in under two minutes, leaving many temporarily without aid. We publish exactly what’s in each parcel and the prices we pay, so the community sees every action we take. Your donations fuel this transparency, safety, and reach.Bottom line: Supplies are tight. Prices are climbing. Access is dangerous. But your support keeps food on tables, water in homes, and care packages in hands. You’re keeping hope alive in a place where hope is under constant attack. May this genocide come to an end soon.
Thank you for standing with Gaza — for standing with the people who have nothing left but each other."
Donate:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-in-gaza-dailyABC news reel:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPhuNiaDoY-/?igsh=MXRoaXVteHNvOHRqbA==#NorthGaza #GazaAid #GazaFundraisers #FreePalestine #Fundraisers #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #GoFundMe #BeitLahiya #BaitLahiya #KhanYounes #Palestine #Genocide #Starvation #IsraeliWarCrimes #NorthernGaza
Remember #ChefMahmoud
#HumanRightsAreNeverWrong #IsraeliWarCrimes #BibiIsAWarCriminal -
✨ Update from Gaza Soup Kitchen ✨
September 4th, 2025 by Hani Almadhoun, Organizer
"Hi friends,
If you are new here, welcome! My name is Hani, co-founder of the Gaza Soup Kitchen. For those regulars, thank you ✊
Right now we have 7 kitchens running in and around Gaza City , 5 water trucks delivering fresh water every morning , and our health clinic is still seeing patients .
Sadly, our classroom was bombed —but we’ve pivoted to something bigger:
✅ Delivered 4,250 food parcels so far
Another 2,550 parcels ready to go
In the middle area, we delivered 600 parcels and opened a new kitchen
We keep showing up for hospitals with meals
Each food parcel = 40–60 meals. It’s not just about helping one family—it feeds whole networks of relatives, neighbors, and displaced people.
In doing this, we’re also showing the world (and the bad actors watching us) that you can give away a lot of food in Gaza without harming Palestinians. Our signage makes that crystal clear.
One moving moment: we’ve been operating from inside an Orthodox and Catholic church (اتحاد الكنائس ) . Families shelter there, and they benefit from the food too. Our young team—many who had never met a Christian before—are learning about unity and friendship in real time. Feeding people from a church feels like something Jesus himself would have blessed.
We hear the drones above us, and we know they don’t like what we’re doing. But we’ll keep feeding as long as we’re allowed.
Our system works: families sign up on a link , we close it when full, assemble the food, and text pickup times. No chaos, no exploitation—just neighbors helping neighbors. Each distribution serves 500–1,000 people with dignity.
You give us confidence , even as we worry for our team’s safety every single day. I am tired of asking for prayers… but somehow it’s still comforting to do so.
Thank you for being with us. Together, we are saving lives, it's not a slogan it's our daily reality.
—Hani & the Gaza Soup Kitchen Team"
Donate: https://www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-in-gaza-daily
#NorthGaza #GazaAid #GazaFundraisers #FreePalestine #Fundraisers #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #GoFundMe #BeitLahiya #BaitLahiya #KhanYounes #Palestine #Genocide #Starvation #IsraeliWarCrimes #NorthernGaza
Remember #ChefMahmoud
#HumanRightsAreNeverWrong #IsraeliWarCrimes #BibiIsAWarCriminal -
#GazaSoupKitchen Update on July 23, 2025 by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer
"Right now, in #Gaza:
Over 90% of the population faces acute food insecurity
Real children—not statistics—are giving up. Their bodies are shutting down from hunger, and they don’t even know it’s not normal
#Famine isn’t a theory—it’s not in some academic journal. It’s in the streets, in the shelters, in the makeshift tents
Parents are skipping meals so their kids can eat
People are walking 2, 5, 8 miles on foot just for a single scoop of lentils
Many collapse from hunger before ever reaching our kitchens
A doctor told us this week:
> “We’re seeing fewer patients. Not because they’re healing—because they don’t have the strength to walk here.”
Let that sink in.
We operate 11 kitchens across Gaza.
Today, only 5 are functional.
Some are running at just 70% capacity, because food is nearly impossible to find.We rotate, we stretch, we improvise—just to survive.
Still, our team doesn’t give up. Not now. Not ever.
They source food in a war zone.
They call every contact from 40 years of work in Gaza—
Farmers with hidden plots. Vendors who stash away grains.
Friends who whisper: “Try this alley… there might be rice.”
Every bag of lentils is a mission.
Every scoop of soup is a triumph.Even grapes became a precious offering this week.
Not because we’re living in luxury—
But because flour wasn’t available, and grapes were.
And because a farmer who dares to grow under war deserves our support.
So we bought the grapes. And we gave them away.
To families who haven’t tasted fruit in months.Some moments break us.
Like when a child tells us they haven’t eaten in three days—
And still doesn’t make it to the front of the line.Like when we have to stop delivering meals to hospitals—
Because we couldn’t source enough flour.
Even though doctors are starving.
Even though they’re surrounded by death 24/7.
And even though the lies about them cut deeper than any wound.But some moments lift us.
Like the way you showed up.
With your donations. Your kindness. Your belief.
That maybe, just maybe, this world can be less cruel if we insist on love.We want to be honest with you:
➡️ Do we need money today? No.
➡️ Will we need it next week? Maybe not.
➡️ But next month? Without a doubt.Because every single day is a test of how long we can hold the line.
We want to be Gaza’s last light.
Not flickering in the dark—
But standing tall.And with your help, we can.
Yes, there are other heartfelt efforts happening across Gaza. We honor them.
But at this scale—11 kitchens, 60+ brave staff, thousands of meals—there is no one doing it quite like this.Please remember:
You are part of this.
This is your compassion.
Your love.
Your impact—served warm in bowls that nourish not just stomachs, but souls.With full hearts, tired hands, and unshakable hope,
—The Gaza Soup Kitchen Team"Donate: https://www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-in-gaza-daily
#NorthGaza #GazaAid #GazaFundraisers #FreePalestine #Fundraisers #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #GoFundMe #BeitLahiya #BaitLahiya #KhanYounes #Palestine #Genocide #Starvation #IsraeliWarCrimes #NorthernGaza
Remember #ChefMahmoud
#HumanRightsAreNeverWrong #IsraeliWarCrimes #BibiIsAWarCriminal -
via @mason
Repost from #HaniAlmadhoun, Senior Director of Philanthropy at #UNRWA, on LinkedIn:
"⚠️⚠️My dad shared this story with me today, and I haven’t been able to shake it.
A woman in one of the makeshift camps was seen running from tent to tent, frantic and out of breath. Her husband had slipped into a diabetic coma. She knew what he needed — just something sweet — a spoonful of sugar, a bite of halva, anything. But the war has emptied even the smallest comforts from Gaza’s cupboards.
No one had sugar. No halva. No dates. Nothing.
Even if someone did have sugar, it now costs nearly five dollars a spoonful — a price no one in that camp could afford. Not for a dying man. Not even for a child.
She returned to her tent empty-handed.
Her husband — a man in his late fifties — was gone.
Just like that.
Not from a missile or a bullet. But from something entirely treatable — if only they hadn’t starved Gaza of everything.
Who is responsible for this death?
Israel is.
And here's the grim reality behind the slushies we handed out to children three days ago: they were sweetened with cough syrup. Because that’s the only sugar we could find. A kilo of sugar now costs $100. People are draining the syrup from canned pineapples just to sweeten their tea.
This is what it means to be under blockade and siege — where even sugar is out of reach, and dying from a diabetic coma becomes part of daily life."
Donate:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-in-gaza-daily#NorthGaza #GazaAid #GazaFundraisers #FreePalestine #Fundraisers #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #GoFundMe #BeitLahiya #BaitLahiya #KhanYounes #Palestine #Genocide #Starvation #IsraeliWarCrimes #NorthernGaza
Remember #ChefMahmoud
#HumanRightsAreNeverWrong #IsraeliWarCrimes #BibiIsAWarCriminal -
#GazaSoupKitchen Update on July 15, 2025 by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer
"Dearest allies,
Please know I’ve missed you these last three weeks as I was on the move again. From Boston to San Francisco, from Minneapolis to Sandy, Utah — we talked about #Gaza and the difference we can make in Gaza and for Gaza.
I thought to finally send you an update — long overdue.
#GazaSoupKitchen Update: The Sugar is $100, But Our Spirits Are Free
Dear friends, supporters, and fellow believers in the power of food and love,
We’re back with a dispatch from the heart of the chaos — Gaza. Where prices fluctuate faster than Bitcoin and the “sugar market” is apparently hotter than Wall Street.
True story: sugar in Gaza now costs $100 per kilo. A kilo of flour? That humble pantry staple you can buy in the U.S. for under a dollar? Here, it’s $20.
So how do we keep going?
We invented dynamic budgeting. No joke. Every kitchen’s daily budget shifts based on the price of lentils, pasta, flour, and oil. It’s like running a commodities exchange — but instead of investors, we have uncles with ladles and kids with empty plates. And somehow, we make it work.
We’re now operating 10.5 kitchens (yes, the half counts — it’s part-time but full of heart). These kitchens serve meals daily without fail. Our crew is now 60 strong, with most locations run by a team of six working around the clock, often with little sleep but lots of resolve.
We're also delivering clean water. And our “flexible food” initiative keeps rolling — think falafel wraps one day, fresh mulukhiya leaves the next, and even slushies for the kids. Sweetened not with sugar, but with cough syrup — because cough medicine is one of the few things that still has sugar. That’s where we are now.
Our classroom still runs three times a week, led by our amazing niece Fatema, bringing some structure, joy, and snacks to kids who deserve better than war.
Our medical point is treating up to 85 patients a day, and we send meals to the hospital daily. A warm plate of food might not fix everything, but it can give a parent or child just enough strength to hold on.
But behind every slushie, every lentil pot, there’s pain.
Yesterday, I lost my friend Murad and his entire family. Their tent was bombed. Murad and I went to elementary and middle school together. He was one of the smart kids — we competed for grades. He had a future, a wife, children. Now, nothing. Another bright light extinguished in a place full of ghosts.
And there’s another story that won’t leave me — a Palestinian woman sprinting through the camp in a panic, trying to find a spoonful of sugar for her husband who had slipped into a diabetic coma. She knocked on every tent. Nothing — no dates, no candy, no halva. She returned after 15 minutes to find him gone. He didn’t die from a bomb. He died from the blockade. From cruelty masked as policy.
Now people sweeten tea with canned pineapple syrup. That’s what survival looks like.
Still — we go on. Most of our operations focus on the west of Gaza, where nearly a million displaced Palestinians are sheltering. And we continue to show up. Even when the fire under the stove isn’t just metaphorical.
We’re hearing that more aid may enter Gaza by Thursday. If it does, prices could drop — even if just a little. That’s what hope looks like now: praying sugar costs less than gold.
We’re also speaking out — engaging the media, pushing back against disinformation, and confronting bad actors like the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. We will not rest until the people responsible for this suffering are held accountable.
We’ve never stopped. Not for a day. Not when we were displaced. Not when flour disappeared. Not when the skies rumbled.
---
And now, a call to action — from one human to another:
If you have the capacity to give, please consider sending a gift. No amount is too small when you're being starved. Your generosity helps us keep cooking, keep serving, and keep hope alive — one meal at a time.
Thank you for taking action for Gaza. And thank you for standing with us — and with organizations like #UNRWA, who continue to do critical, life-saving work in Gaza while under constant attack.
Your love and care are felt here every single day.
With sorrow, hope, and slushies made of cough syrup,
The Gaza Soup Kitchen Team
---
P.S. If you received an email from GoFundMe showing an incorrect donation amount, please know there's a glitch in their system and we’re working to fix it. Thank you for your patience — and for staying engaged."
Donate: https://www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-in-gaza-daily
#NorthGaza #GazaAid #GazaFundraisers #FreePalestine #Fundraisers #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #GoFundMe #BeitLahiya #BaitLahiya #KhanYounes #Palestine #Genocide #Starvation #IsraeliWarCrimes #NorthernGaza
Remember #ChefMahmoud
#HumanRightsAreNeverWrong #IsraeliWarCrimes #BibiIsAWarCriminal -
#GazaSoupKitchen Update on June 26, 2025 by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer
"Dear friends and allies,
I owe you an update from the Gaza Soup Kitchen. But first—thank you. Thank you for being here, for pouring your heart into this with us and for us. None of this happens without you.
Yesterday, I thought we had good news. For once, it seemed the aid trucks made it safely to the right organizations, thanks to a remarkable effort by #Palestinian families who stepped up to protect the convoys from looters and opportunists.
But this morning, the #FarRight #Israeli government announced it would block #aid again—claiming that aid reaching civilians somehow “helps militants.” Do you see how absurd this is? When aid flows in an orderly way, it reduces Palestinian suffering—and that undermines Israel’s cruel objective of using #starvation and chaos as tools of war.
Make no mistake: Israel thrives on the images of desperate people fighting over scraps. Some looters are simply desperate; others, emboldened by Israel, have been weaponized to disrupt aid, drive up prices, and deepen the misery.
So what does this mean for us? For starters, we’re finalizing plans to open our tenth kitchen. Yes—ten. Our operations have doubled since March because the need has doubled. Other aid actors have shut down, paused, or couldn’t figure out how to operate under siege. But we didn’t stop. We won’t.
And please—direct your frustration where it belongs: at #Israel, not the aid organizations. Groups like #UNRWA are still on the ground, delivering healthcare, education, and water under impossible conditions.
Prices in #Gaza are unpredictable. One day we can afford staples, and the next day, the prices skyrocket. Vendors are charging as much as 40% in transfer fees because cash is so scarce. It’s supply, demand, and unfortunately, a bit of gouging—capitalism under siege.
Our team has been cooking dishes we haven’t made in months. Just recently, we served Romanya and Damsat Adas (lentil stew). We’re also rotating lentil stews, white bean stews, and—when we can source enough—rice-based meals to feed entire neighborhoods.
People know to find us in Al-Sheikh Radwan, Al-Shati (Beach Camp), Al-Nasr, and Al-Rimal. Our northernmost spot is Al-Saftaway, and our westernmost is literally on the Gaza pier—cooking right on the dock.
Beyond food, our water trucks are out every single morning, delivering clean drinking water to shelters and neighborhoods. We maintain a steady presence in Nuseirat with both water and a pop-up kitchen there. That location runs with the help of a trusted partner team since we don’t have a full-time crew based there.
Our medical point stays busy—serving an average of 80 patients a day. Primary care, dental work, physical therapy, wound care, and a small but vital pharmacy we stock regularly. Nurses are changing dressings, soothing pain, and holding it down in ways few ever see.
We also continue delivering hot meals daily to two of Gaza’s still-functioning hospitals. For the past six weeks, these meals have been a plate or container of baked pies and pizzas—warm, filling, and made with dignity. Because even patients and exhausted medical staff deserve a meal that feels like home, not just survival.
Meanwhile, our flexible initiatives continue—small but mighty. Just yesterday, we handed out new clothes to over three dozen children sheltering in a school. This is led by Chef Mahmoud’s widow, Ms. Alaa, alongside my mother. A few days ago, the same crew prepared falafel wraps, produce packs, and molokhia leaves for families in need.
And Ms. Fatma—God bless her—is back in her classroom, teaching the little ones their ABCs. Her class has 20 bright-eyed students, eager to learn, to grow, and to hold onto some sense of childhood. The stories coming out of that tent classroom are both heartbreaking and profoundly beautiful.
Now, I know this sounds like the cliché part, but hear me when I say it—this only works because of you.
You keep the Gaza Soup Kitchen running. You keep the lights on. You placed your trust in us—our team, our stories, and our stubborn belief that even in the darkest moments, we can deliver hope with a bowl of soup, a bag of rice, a clean drink of water, or a fresh-baked pie.
When deep-pocketed organizations shut down in Gaza during the hour of greatest need—we stayed open. And not just open—we doubled our locations.
Please keep walking this path with us. Share our stories. Tag us. Mention us in your gatherings, your prayers, your summer events—even if it’s as simple as a lemonade stand. (And shout out to the kids who’ve done just that—you are giants among us.)
And to the #Jewish souls who are fasting for Gaza right now—thank you. Thank you for refusing to let a vile, right-wing government weaponize your grief. Your humanity shines.
In sumud,
Hani"Donate: https://www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-in-gaza-daily
#NorthGaza #GazaAid #GazaFundraisers #FreePalestine #Fundraisers #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #GoFundMe #BeitLahiya #BaitLahiya #KhanYounes #Palestine #Genocide #Starvation #IsraeliWarCrimes #NorthernGaza
Remember #ChefMahmoud
#HumanRightsAreNeverWrong #IsraeliWarCrimes #BibiIsAWarCriminal -
#GazaSoupKitchen Update on May 26, 2025 by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer
#Gaza Soup Kitchen Update — Still Cooking, Still Standing
"Dear friends and heroes,
"Salam, Shalom, Hola, Hi, and Marhaba —
"All seven of our Gaza Soup Kitchens are still cooking. That alone is a miracle. It takes extraordinary grit, resilience, and heart to keep these fires going as food becomes even scarcer. The markets haven’t changed much — maybe a bit of flour trickling in, mostly for bakeries — but that's it. There’s still no sign of variety or abundance. And yes, some of that flour has been looted. Not out of greed, but out of raw desperation — families trying to survive.
"The best answer isn’t more policing. It’s more food. Flood Gaza with aid. Make a bag of flour cost $5 again — not $200. That’s the real path to dignity and stability.
"To put it in perspective: if the borders had stayed open, 46,000 trucks of aid could have made it in. Right now? We’re barely seeing 500 trucks per week. That’s not enough to feed Gaza for even seven days.
"The good news is that #UNRWA and the UN aid clusters are doing what they can. While Israel has yet to authorize direct flour distributions to families, we are hopeful that permission will come soon. Until then, we do what we’ve always done: cook, deliver, and show up.
"We’ve had to relocate five of our kitchens recently — moving southward as people flee bombardment and destruction in the north. Our current locations:
- Three kitchens in Al-Sheikh Radwan
- Two in Beach Camp
- One in the heart of Gaza City, on the edge of what was once the vibrant, prosperous Rimal neighborhood — now reduced to rubble and relying on food relief.
- And the flour power team of bakers are still working every day to deliver for the two hospitals"The need remains overwhelming. But if aid boxes begin reaching families directly, we may finally see fewer people lining up in hunger. Fewer scuffles over bread. Fewer kids going to sleep with empty stomachs.
"We’re still delivering water — fewer trucks now (maybe eight a day instead of ten), but we’re pushing forward. Our medical point is also in the process of relocating, as its former location has become too dangerous. Reports of Israeli drones targeting nearby homes forced us to move for the safety of the team and those seeking care.
"And in case you missed it — the so-called #GazaHumanitarianFoundation has collapsed. This wasn’t a charity — it was a PR stunt. A cynical attempt to control #Palestinians by using food as leverage. I’ve been vocal about it online, and I encourage you to read and share. Humanitarian aid should never come in armored vehicles.
"To those fasting for Gaza — thank you. Your solidarity fills more than just stomachs. It lifts hearts. It reminds people they’re not forgotten.
"Over the past few days, I’ve had the chance to speak out for Gaza on CNN, BBC, and the IMEU podcast. I had to make the hard call to cancel my trip to Sarajevo — six days away felt like too much at this critical time. Instead, I went to Sarasota and Tampa, met with wonderful donors, and gave a few talks that I hope helped connect hearts to Gaza’s struggle.
"Thank you for being with us. Thank you for staying focused. Let’s keep pushing — for aid, for #justice, and for life.
"Let’s leave distractions and divisive theories at the door. This isn’t a moment for ego or infighting. This is about survival. About Gaza. About humanity.
"With love, resilience, and resolve,
Hani"P.S. If you're in DC, I hope to see you at the Gaza 5K this Saturday. And if not, maybe I’ll catch you during the UNRWA USA Tour in late June — we’re scheduled to be in Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Minneapolis, and San Francisco. Let’s connect. Let’s keep showing up."
Donate: https://www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-in-gaza-daily
#NorthGaza #GazaAid #GazaFundraisers #FreePalestine #Fundraisers #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #GoFundMe #BeitLahiya #BaitLahiya #KhanYounes #Palestine #Genocide #Starvation #IsraeliWarCrimes #NorthernGaza
Remember #ChefMahmoud
#HumanRightsAreNeverWrong #IsraeliWarCrimes #BibiIsAWarCriminal -
54 people killed in overnight airstrikes on southern #Gaza city, hospital says
By MOHAMMAD JAHJOUH and TIA GOLDENBERG
Updated 8:23 AM EDT, May 15, 2025KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — "Multiple airstrikes hit Gaza’s southern city of #KhanYounis overnight into Thursday, killing more than 50 people in a second consecutive night of heavy bombing, while another airstrike in the north of the #Palestinian territory left more than a dozen people dead, authorities said.
"The strikes come as U.S. President Donald Trump visits the Middle East, visiting Gulf states but not Israel. There had been widespread hope that Trump’s regional visit could usher in a ceasefire deal or renewal of humanitarian aid to Gaza. An Israeli blockade of the territory is now in its third month.
"An Associated Press cameraman in Khan Younis counted 10 airstrikes on the city overnight into Thursday, and saw numerous bodies taken to the morgue in the city’s Nasser Hospital. It took time to identify some of the bodies due to the extent of their injuries. The hospital’s morgue confirmed 54 people had been killed.
"The dead included a #journalist working for Qatari television network Al Araby TV, the network announced on social media, saying Hasan Samour had been killed along with 11 members of his family in one of the strikes in Khan Younis.
"The Israeli military had no immediate comment on the strikes.
"It was the second night of heavy bombing, after airstrikes Wednesday on northern and southern Gaza killed at least 70 people, including almost two dozen children.
"Another strike in #Jabaliya in northern Gaza hit a complex including a mosque and a small medical clinic, killing 13 people, said the Civil Defense, a first responder agency operating under Gaza’s Hamas-run government."
#NorthGaza #FreePalestine #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #BeitLahiya #BaitLahiya #KhanYounes #Palestine #Genocide #Starvation #IsraeliWarCrimes #NorthernGaza
Remember #ChefMahmoud
#HumanRightsAreNeverWrong #IsraeliWarCrimes #BibiIsAWarCriminal -
#GazaSoupKitchen Update on May 14, 2025 by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer
"Overnight, #Israeli airstrikes killed at least 42 #Palestinians, bombing near #ChefFaten’s neighborhood. It shook us all—not just because we feared for her safety, but because we know and love so many in that community. Our grief is constant, our worry never-ending.
"On the ground, our seven soup kitchens continue to operate daily. But the situation is worse than ever. Food costs more, availability is scarce, and the number of people relying on us continues to grow. People cry when we can’t serve them—it’s not just hunger, it’s desperation. Our kitchens are often the last place with an open door, the only spot with boiling pots. It takes a toll on our team. They carry stories home, the kind that weigh on your spirit. This is life under a system of injustice, under intentional starvation. Even Israeli soldiers have reportedly begun admitting the severity of the crisis—privately, of course.
"We are literally keeping people alive. With every meal served, we’re not just feeding the hungry—we're preserving life. But when food isn’t enough, our team steps in with IV fluids at our medical point, helping patients who are too weak to eat or dangerously dehydrated. This is care at its most urgent, its most human.
"We also deliver hot meals daily to two hospitals—without fail. Patients and exhausted medical staff know they can count on us. On you and me. In a place where nearly everything has collapsed, that consistency is a miracle.
"And no, we don’t say that because we want applause. It’s miraculous because we’re still open for business—still cooking, still delivering, still healing—despite everything that’s happening to us in Gaza. Despite the bombs, the starvation, the displacement, and the heartbreak. We haven’t stopped.
"That’s the power of solidarity.
"Our water trucks deliver life itself.
Every day, we get water to nine locations, rotating between neighborhoods in the north and middle of Gaza. Women and elderly people often go thirsty, waiting. Still, we show up. And it’s only possible because you continue to show up for us."Our medical point sees 70 to 100 patients a day. We care for wounds, fevers, infections. We source medications from shuttered pharmacies, destroyed hospitals, and whatever small NGOs can share. Diapers and baby formula are now treasures—some families have resorted to plastic bags. The world is watching and condemning, but it’s not enough. Condemnation doesn’t heal children.
"And our flexible initiatives? They're still going strong. Yesterday we delivered fresh produce—cabbage, eggplant, peppers—to displaced families. Last week it was children's clothing. Every small gesture matters. Every pack makes a difference for one child, one mother, one family. While we might give away thirty produce packs, we could use a thousand more. People are stunned that we’re still able to source anything at all. They call, hoping to get one. These small packs are rarer than UFOs.
"Let’s be clear: #Israel owns this madness. And one day, it will be held accountable. May it happen before the afterlife.
"You keep us going. You keep the lights on. You give our team confidence that the world hasn't turned its back. I’m tired. I’m removed from the genocide. But I know our frontliners are beyond exhausted. What keeps them going is faith—and the tiny distractions that service brings. They are choosing others, in the face of destruction."
Donate: https://www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-in-gaza-daily
#NorthGaza #GazaAid #GazaFundraisers #FreePalestine #Fundraisers #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #GoFundMe #BeitLahiya #BaitLahiya #KhanYounes #Palestine #Genocide #Starvation #IsraeliWarCrimes #NorthernGaza
Remember #ChefMahmoud
#HumanRightsAreNeverWrong #IsraeliWarCrimes #BibiIsAWarCriminal -
#GazaSoupKitchen Update on April 28th, 2025 by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer
"Salam and hello from Seattle — racing to return my rental and catch the shuttle to the airport!
I was here to meet with our #UNRWA USA supporters and gear up for the inaugural Seattle Gaza 5K on August 3rd.
But my heart is back in Gaza.Last week, we added a 7th soup kitchen location because things are desperate.
Now, heartbreakingly, we may have to open an 8th.The need keeps growing while the food keeps shrinking.
Everyone is exhausted.
You see the videos.
Our family and crew are living it — seeing the bodies in the streets, in hospitals, at every delivery site.
This is their daily reality.
No words can soften it.The sliver of good news?
American public opinion is shifting.
Israeli policies and practices are now about as popular as COVID-19 in 2020 — overwhelming, wrong, criminal.
There’s no "but." It’s just the truth.One of our kitchens — where Chef Faten leads — has become the most photographed soup kitchen in history.
Every day for the past month, a reporter comes to capture it:
The endless lines.
The incredible crew — women and men — cooking under brutal conditions to feed their neighbors.
We fear for their safety, and she knows the risks of speaking out.Friends send me clips from news sites — but none of it stops the nightmare.
People need us now.
And we keep showing up.Even the reporters, who might have money and resources, leave after filming with a meal — because they, too, are food insecure.
That’s how widespread the hunger is.
This program speaks for the hungry.Right now, we have about 2-3 weeks of food left — that's it. ⏳
Sourcing anything is already a massive struggle.Our last move?
We sent a team south to try to find rice and pasta and bring it north.
Carts are banned. Rickshaws and livestock-pulled carts are all we have.
Nothing new has entered Gaza for almost two months.
People are starving.
Pause and really think about that.
It’s indefensible.Still, we hold on.
We deliver water daily.
We run small projects — slushies for kids ❄️, bread, kids' clothes, haircuts ✂️ — whatever we can manage to give them a glimmer of normalcy.
Small joys matter.
In a place where kids are being killed and wounded every day, a cold slushie is a glimpse of childhood again.At our medical point, nurses and doctors are seeing 70-100 patients daily.
We keep restocking supplies when we can.
The nurses are the true healers. ❤️As for us?
We will not stop.
Maybe an 8th location this week.
Maybe another hospital next.
Whatever it takes.Please:
Keep speaking out.
Keep believing in collective liberation.
Stay loud for Palestine.
They have suffered enough.
2023. 2024. 2025.
Let’s make sure this ends yesterday, not tomorrow.In prayers and persistence,
HaniP.S. For those who asked: my parents are alive (Alhamdulillah), leaning on their faith but tired, insecure, and worried for the grandkids they now have to raise while in their seventies. But it has also given them new purpose — and I know many Palestinians now find themselves in the same boat."
Donate:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-in-gaza-daily#NorthGaza #GazaAid #GazaFundraisers #FreePalestine #Fundraisers #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #GoFundMe #BeitLahiya #BaitLahiya #KhanYounes #Palestine #Genocide #Starvation #IsraeliWarCrimes #NorthernGaza
Remember #ChefMahmoud
#HumanRightsAreNeverWrong #IsraeliWarCrimes #BibiIsAWarCriminal -
#GazaSoupKitchen Update on April 10th, 2025 by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer
"Dear friends,Thank you, as always, for being with us. We hope you’re doing okay—these are uncertain, overwhelming, and often heartbreaking times, and your continued support means the world to us and to Gaza.
This past week, our team had a serious conversation: Should we scale back our work because food has become incredibly expensive, harder to find, and money transfer fees have skyrocketed? Or should we dig deeper? We already have the staff and the ability to send funds (we did have a hiccup earlier this week that we were able to resolve)
We chose to dig deeper.
We agreed that this is not the time to hold back—it’s the time to do more. The community needs us now. Many larger humanitarian actors are parked at the border, waiting for access. We’re one of the few nimble efforts still moving—still showing up, still cooking, still delivering water, still caring.So here’s what your support made possible this week:
We added a sixth permanent Gaza Soup Kitchen location—this one serves families east of #Jabalia refugee camp. Our pop-up kitchens continue to operate in central #Gaza when possible.
We’re feeding 1,500 families daily, plus preparing 300 meals for two hospitals: the Indonesian Hospital and the Arab Baptist Hospital. Staff at the Indonesian Hospital even honored our crew with a certificate of appreciation—a moment of light in very dark days.
Ten water trucks continue to deliver water every day, reaching 20,000 people across various neighborhoods. Five teams run this effort—each team gets two trucks and heads to two different areas. Water is life, and we do our best to keep it flowing.
Our medical point is growing. We added a private room for patients and doctors, and we now care for about 80 patients a day. We hunt down medications when they’re nowhere to be found. It shouldn’t be heroic to find basic meds—but right now, it is. Still, we keep trying.
And in #BeitLahia, our incredible women-led team organized a special day for mothers. They distributed scarves and a hard-to-find beauty product, and served cold slushies to women and their children. It was a moment of joy, normalcy, and love. It cost us just $400 and lifted a whole town.
We are so proud of our team. But we’re also tired. Every day, we see news about #humanitarian workers and #SoupKitchens being targeted. We read it with heavy hearts, knowing it could be any of us. The toll of this work is real. But so is our promise:
We will be the last door to close.
The last pot to stop boiling.We say this not with bravado—but with faith, grit, and deep responsibility. Your support makes this possible. And we are so, so grateful.
Please continue to share, donate, and keep Gaza in your hearts.
With love and determination,
The Gaza Soup Kitchen Team"Donate:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-in-gaza-daily#NorthGaza #GazaAid #GazaFundraisers #FreePalestine #Fundraisers #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #GoFundMe #BeitLahiya #BaitLahiya #KhanYounes #Palestine #Genocide #Starvation #IsraeliWarCrimes #NorthernGaza
Remember #ChefMahmoud
#HumanRightsAreNeverWrong #IsraeliWarCrimes #BibiIsAWarCriminal -
Holding the Line in #Gaza – A Personal Update (March 9, 2025)
by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer of the #GazaSoupKitchen
"Hey Friends,
Wanted to check in with an update on what’s happening in Gaza and what we’ve been up to at the Gaza Soup Kitchen. Things are still unbelievably tough, but we’re keeping the fire going—literally and figuratively.
Food and Supplies – It’s Only Getting Harder
Food isn’t being allowed in, and essentials like vegetables and meat are nearly impossible to find. Many people haven’t seen fresh produce or protein in weeks. Restaurants are shutting down because they simply don’t have ingredients to cook with, and the exchange rate is climbing again, making everything even more expensive for people who have nothing left.
Even with all that, we’re still cooking every day. We’ve managed to keep going, and right now, we have enough food supplies to last about two more weeks. After that? We’ll figure it out, just like we always do. We may have to scale back food parcels, but we’re determined to keep meals coming. Chicken is likely off the menu—without widespread refrigeration, there’s no way to store it safely.
Here’s what we did just today:
✅ Cooked at all five of our locations
✅ Delivered 75 food boxes to struggling families
✅ Sent 150 meals to hospitals
✅ Distributed 10 containers of drinking waterLife for Displaced Families – No Relief in Sight
Nothing is improving for displaced families. They’re still living in tents that don’t protect them from the rain or the heat. Supplies are drying up, medicine is scarce, and hospitals are barely functioning. It’s a grinding crisis. People are resilient, but you can feel the exhaustion setting in.
I know that for many outside, Gaza isn’t in the headlines like it was before. People move on, news cycles shift, attention fades. But the suffering hasn’t stopped—#Palestinians are still being targeted, families are still struggling, and there’s no real ceasefire in place. We can’t afford to look away.
The Money Talk – Spending More Than We’re Bringing In
My displaced Palestinian accountant (yes, really) sent me a message after going through our February bank statement. His exact words? 'Hani, you’re spending way more than you brought in. Maybe slow it down?'
I told him straight up — 'Not happening.' The community doesn’t need us to slow down; they need us to keep going. We’re not reckless, but we’re preparing for Ramadan—stocking up food, keeping locations ready, and making sure we can feed as many people as possible in the weeks ahead.
What’s Next?
We need:
✔️ More aid to get through
✔️ Access to essential supplies
✔️ Rebuilding materials to be allowed inUntil that happens, we’ll keep cooking. We’re not stopping.
Thanks for standing with us—this is only possible because of you. Your support means the world, and I hope you know that. More soon.
Hani
P.S. Please know that I hate talking about money—I’d much rather focus on the impact we’re making. But just to give you a sense of how far your support goes:
$30 buys a food box for a family in need
$200 delivers drinking water to 200 families
$8 provides a nourishing meal to someone who hasn't eaten in days
$200 runs our medical point for an entire day, providing care and comfort to 70+ people
Every dollar counts and makes a real difference in the lives of those we’re trying to help. Your generosity is what keeps us going."
Donate:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-in-gaza-daily
#NorthGaza #GazaAid #GazaFundraisers #FreePalestine #Fundraisers #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #GoFundMe #BeitLahiya #BaitLahiya #KhanYounes #Palestine #Genocide #Starvation #IsraeliWarCrimes #NorthernGaza
Remember #ChefMahmoud
#HumanRightsAreNeverWrong -
#GazaSoupKitchen: Update on March 2, 2025 by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer
"Dear comrade,
#Ramadan is here, and all hands are on deck for the people of #Gaza.
Today:
✨ Five different locations that you support are serving hot meals, each offering at least two dishes and feeding 300+ families.
✨ We’ve been averaging 150 food boxes packed with essentials and groceries. I’ve been telling the team: buy what you can while you can—because sure enough, the Israelis announced they’re shutting the crossings and denying aid to Gaza. Prices shot up immediately, supplies are running low, and without refrigerators, fresh food like chicken and produce will spoil. Aid is free, but when it's denied, people will search for it.
Our team has stocked enough food for about ten days to sustain operations, meaning we’ll distribute even more food boxes until the market stabilizes. This morning, we dropped off 320 food boxes in #Jabalia. Tomorrow, we’ll do more. This kind of planning only happens because you rally around us.
A well-staffed medical point is serving up to 100 patients daily, offering primary care, dental care, baby and elderly support, and physiotherapy—all working hand in hand to bring comfort in these incredibly difficult times. The clinic also provides essentials like baby formula and diapers for children, as well as free basic medicine for those who need it most.
Eight to ten water trucks are reaching different neighborhoods in North Gaza. Remember: no aid means no fuel, and no fuel means it’s harder to pump water from the ground.
60 care packages distributed daily to little kids, sometimes tjese jabe snacks, other times essential like cheeses and jams.
140 hot meals are being delivered daily to hospitals, nourishing both patients and the medical staff keeping people alive.
Our team is expanding, giving us more mobility to take on bigger tasks at lightning speed. Just yesterday, we secured 350 blankets and delivered them to tent communities within hours. We did the same with food boxes. The faster we move, the more people we reach.
But what truly weighs on me is the relentless scrutiny from voices—trolls, really—who comment on the food we serve as if a meal somehow erases the suffering. Every plate we prepare is a battle—to secure funds, to find ingredients, to cook in a place where even the basics are scarce. And yet, when we share a meal prepared with love, some use it as an excuse to deny the reality of Gaza.
We are more than our suffering, but our suffering is real. No amount of bad-faith arguments will change that.
None of this happens without your love, support, and generosity. You are part of this movement, and together, we are making a difference—one meal, one blanket, one act of care at a time. Thank you for standing with Gaza. ✨
P. S. This week Sumud Podcast started sharing different segments of a two hour recording sessions I had with the hosts three weeks ago, I hope you get a chance to listen in."
https://www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-in-gaza-daily
#Ceasefire #Hope #NorthGaza #GazaAid #GazaFundraisers #FreePalestine #CeasefireNow #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #GoFundMe #BeitLahiya #BaitLahiya #KhanYounes #Palestine #HumanRightsAreNeverWrong #NorthernGaza
Remember #ChefMahmoud -
#GazaSoupKitchen: Update on January 28, 2025 by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer
"Hi, Salaam, and hello everyone,
Thank you for your patience—I know I’m a few days late with this update, and I truly appreciate your understanding. It’s been an emotional roller coaster of a week, but off we go.
Despite the unbearable reality in Gaza, this week has given us rare moments of joy. We’ve seen heartwarming reunions—families hugging for the first time in 15 months, children embracing their parents, grandparents holding their grandkids. It’s a lot to process, but these moments remind us why we keep going.
At the same time, the harsh truth remains: most people returning to the north are finding their homes damaged or destroyed. Nine out of ten families come back to rubble, and yet, they return because Gaza is home. That’s why we’re shifting our operations northward, where traditionally 65% of Gaza’s population lived.
We’ve closed our two kitchens in the south, but in their place, we’ve distributed food parcels, snack packs, fresh produce, and meal kits—allowing families to cook for themselves. It’s been a meaningful way to serve, but our focus now is on the three operational soup kitchens in Gaza City.
1️⃣ #BeachCamp: Originally planned for just another week, but the need is too great to close. Many of our crew members lost their homes in #BeitLahia and #Jabalia, and they’re staying near the kitchen to serve their community. We’re keeping it open to provide meals for up to 400 families daily.
2️⃣ #AlNasr: Quickly becoming a central hub, serving up to 300 families daily. Our team is working hard to manage the crowd and ensure meals reach as many as possible.
3️⃣ #ArabBaptistHospital: This kitchen has been delivering not just meals but dignity—serving items like kebabs, rice, and fresh sandwiches. The hospital even gave us a certificate of appreciation, a gesture that meant so much to our team.
Beyond food, water is critical. Without it, people can’t clean up, rebuild, or even stay in their neighborhoods. We’ve been delivering four water trucks a day to #NorthGaza, and tomorrow will be our biggest push yet—aiming for 10 trucks. We’re urging all humanitarian actors to prioritize water delivery, especially to hard-to-reach areas like Jabalia.
We’re also working to establish a larger, permanent soup kitchen, likely in #Mashrua, Beit Lahia. The only thing holding us back is logistics—our kitchen equipment is stuck in the south, and we haven’t yet found a way to transport it north. But we’ll get there.
And as always, we’re dreaming bigger. Maybe we can revive the school #ChefMahmoud started. Maybe we can expand our support for orphans. But for now, we’re focused on the essentials—food, water, shelter, and clothing.
None of this would be possible without you. You have given so much to Gaza, and you deserve a moment of joy, of celebration. Every meal served, every drop of water delivered, every family supported—it’s because of your generosity. So please, take a deep breath and know that your kindness is making a real, tangible difference.
Additionally, I had the chance to speak with #NPR's local affiliate about what gives me, as a Palestinian, a sense of community. It was such an uplifting conversation, and the Gaza Soup Kitchen took center stage—because of all of you and the incredible things we’ve accomplished together. Every step of the way, every smile, every bite, and every drop of water has been a testament to our collective effort.
With gratitude and appreciation,
Hani"https://www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-in-gaza-daily
#Ceasefire #Hope #NorthGaza #GazaAid #GazaFundraisers #FreePalestine #CeasefireNow #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #GoFundMe #BeitLahiya #BaitLahiya #KhanYounes #Palestine #HumanRightsAreNeverWrong #NorthernGaza #Gaza -
Hot meals 4 Starved #Palestinian Kids in #NorthGaza
Update on January 3, 2025 by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer
"Thank you for being here with us and standing in solidarity. It's deeply troubling that, in 2025, we are still needed, and even more devastating that #Gaza remains under relentless military assault. Just yesterday, 69 defenseless #Palestinians lost their lives to Israeli violence. Yet, we press on, because giving up is not an option.
"Our winterization efforts are expanding across Gaza through several initiatives. In #NorthGaza, we are distributing heavy blankets—updates on this will be shared later today on social media. Yesterday in #KhanYounes, we handed out hats and gloves to the students in our classroom led by Ms. Fatma. These small but crucial interventions are aimed at helping families cope with the brutal winter. Still, the images of people drenched and freezing in the rain are heart-wrenching, especially knowing that at least seven babies have succumbed to the cold. It’s overwhelming, but we refuse to stop. In addition to cooking daily meals—stews and soups—we’re challenging ourselves to find new ways to keep people warm. While we wish we could provide tents or tarps to shelter those most vulnerable, for now, we are focused on winter clothes and blankets. Each blanket costs about $40, and we’ve sourced the heaviest kind available. We also hope to find sleeping bags soon.
"Before diving into more updates, I want to share some exciting news. Slate Magazine just published a podcast interview with me, where I talk about #UNRWA, the #GazaSoupKitchen, and #ChefMahmoud’s inspiring contributions. I hope you get a chance to give it a listen—it’s a glimpse into the work we’re doing and the people behind it."
Read more (and share and contribute if you can)...
https://www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-in-gaza-daily
#Starvation #GazaAid #GazaFundraisers #FreePalestine #CeasefireNow #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #GoFundMe #Genocide #BeitLahiya #BaitLahiya #BibiIsAWarCriminal #GoFundMe #KhanYounes #Palestine #HumanRightsAreNeverWrong #NorthernGaza #Gaza #AlZawaydah #AlNussairet #SouthGaza #ArabBaptistHospital #StopArmingIsrael #WorldWarBibi #IsraeliWarCrimes #IsraelHumanRightsViolations -
Hot meals 4 Starved #Palestinian Kids in #NorthGaza
Update on December 5, 2024 by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer
Donor Update: Honoring #ChefMahmoud’s Legacy and Pressing On
"Dear Friends,
"This is my saddest update to date, but first, if you're new here—welcome. I’m so glad you’ve joined us, even during what has been an unimaginably difficult week for my family and me.
"Our Commitment to Gaza
"Let me begin by saying this: we are not going anywhere. Our kitchens remain fully operational, with three locations in North Gaza and two in the south. Every day, we serve thousands of families in need, and we are determined to continue this vital work.
"A Tragic Loss
"On Saturday, around 9:00 a.m. local time in Palestine, an Israeli drone targeted and assassinated my brother, Chef Muhammad. It’s almost unfathomable. A man whose only mission was to help others—a chef—was taken by an instrument of death. He wasn’t just a chef; he was a hero.
"At just 33 years old, Muhammad dedicated his life to supporting the people of North Gaza. He refused to leave despite immense danger, providing food, water, and essential supplies to his community. He loved and appreciated his life, honored his parents, was a good dad to his kids. Mahmoud even supported local hospitals with enough resources to sustain them for weeks. The things he has done has been already been acknowledged by the local community. Instead of awards and recognitions which he didn't seek, he got a missile meant tk kill bad guys not humanitarians like Mahmoud.
"He was detained multiple times by the Israeli army and always released immediately because he was a civilian, a humanitarian. So why was he targeted? Why was a chef deemed a threat? The loss is heartbreaking and senseless. But Muhammad died a hero, and we are incredibly proud of him.
"Media Efforts
"This week, I’ve done countless media interviews to share Muhammad’s story. While exhausting, it is a privilege to bring awareness to his legacy and the ongoing #genocide in Gaza. We’ve spoken about him on platforms like #DemocracyNow, Fox 5 DC, CNN, PBS, AJ+, and many more. These stories won’t bring him back, but they hold the Israeli army morally accountable and offer comfort to those who loved him. Also, special shout out to Chris and Janeen from IMEU for helping me and so many Palestinians to be present in the US and Global media.
"Muhammad now joins our brother Majed, who was killed exactly a year earlier. The pain of losing two brothers is immeasurable, but we march on—not because we seek grand statements, but because supporting our people is the only way we know how."
Read more (includes Updates from the Field):
https://www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-in-gaza-daily?viewupdates=1&rcid=r01-173221650335-4b67c31ca83d11ef&utm_medium=email&utm_source=customer&utm_campaign=p_email%2B1137-update-supporters-v5b#NorthGaza #IsraeliWarCrimes #Starvation #GazaAid #GazaFundraisers #FreePalestine #CeasefireNow #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #GoFundMe #IsraelHumanRightsViolations
#StopArmingIsrael #WorldWarBibi #BeitLahiya #BaitLahiya #BibiIsAWarCriminal #Genocide #GoFundMe #KhanYounes #Palestine #HumanRightsAreNeverWrong #NorthernGaza #Gaza #AlZawaydah #KamalAdwan #KamalAdwanHospital -
@toddbohannon And #ChefMahmoud, brother of #HaniAlmadhoun and co-founder of the #GazaSoupKitchen. 😭
-
😭 Some of #DemocracyNow's interview with #HaniAlmadhoun, after the assassination of his brother, #ChefMahmoud -- just a day after Dr. Ahmed al-Kahlout was killed.
"AMY GOODMAN: That’s Dr. Ahmed al-Kahlout, who was killed this weekend, head of Kamal Adwan’s intensive care unit. Hani?
HANI ALMADHOUN: Yes, rest in peace, Dr. Ahmed al-Kahlout. He’s a friend of the family. He’s our neighbor. He was killed exactly a day before Mahmoud. In fact, he gave my — he was able to give my brother painkillers, because my dad, who’s 72 years old, was hurt two weeks ago by Israeli quadcopter, and we couldn’t find painkillers. The doctor said he didn’t want anything. He asked if Mahmoud can do him a favor and get him tomato paste. Can you imagine this hero saving lives and can’t find tomato paste? And Mahmoud said, “I’ll find it for you.” And he went to the hospital, and boom, that day, the guy was assassinated. He’s the head of the intensive care unit.
Mahmoud has developed a friendship with Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the hero doctor, solving problems for him. In fact, 10 days before Mahmoud’s assassination, he delivered filtered water for the hospital for their dialysis unit. Can you imagine a civilian figuring out how to deliver filtered water for the hospital, not just for drinking, but also to run the dialysis unit? You can’t imagine how important Mahmoud was for the hospital. The hospital already sent their condolences. They’re worried about lack of his support. In fact, yesterday the shipment of produce that Mahmoud ordered just got to the hospital. You know, they are out of fresh food. They’re eating pasta and rice that’s delivered by UNRWA and the World Health Organization.
But yesterday I was in a conference call with Dr. Hussam, and he said, “Out of the 50 items we need, these organizations are able to deliver six or seven,” and he’s frustrated because he’s not getting the help he needs. And, you know, I’ve met the doctors. They’re not seasoned by any measure. They’re just fresh out of medical school, trying their best, doing things that — even nurses in Gaza are doing operations now, because there’s nobody else to do these things. And it’s unfortunate we continue to do this.
And the cruelty, Amy, my brother survived this genocide for 420 days, and then he’s killed. And he was telling me the day before, “Hani, there might be good news. They’re talking about a ceasefire.” It’s one thing to be killed early in the war and not suffer as much, but he was killed toward, I hope, to be the tail end of it.
He does not deserve to be killed. And I inquire and I challenge the Israelis to publicly say why they targeted my brother. We have full confidence that he is the person we know. He’s a civilian dad who wanted to help his neighbors, and everybody knows him and supported him, and we pray for him.
But also, we want to make sure people there, you know, they can still do things. You know, why are they banning UNRWA? Why is the U.S. defunding the U.N. agency? This is no longer about October 7th and the horrors. This is about ethnically cleansing north of Gaza. The south is also facing starvations. We run a soup kitchen there. And we went from a $1,000 budget to $5,000 daily budget just to get people some rice, because food is not available. But we want to respond. Despite our pain, my cousins and nephews and sister-in-law is cooking for people in four out of the five soup kitchens we continue to run. We’re not going to close, because this is our family, this is our commitment. We don’t cook for people, we don’t eat ourselves.
This is not — and this is risky. You know, it should not be risky. It should not be an heroic act to get water to the hospital. And that’s why I remember the 230 UNRWA staff who were killed, and not just UNRWA. You’ve mentioned the Save the Children. You’ve mentioned other organizations who have lost their staff. And —
AMY GOODMAN: World Central Kitchen.
HANI ALMADHOUN: Yes, correct. And unfortunately that sometimes, you know, Israeli accusations run in the media as a fact, and that’s — nobody challenges whatever allegations are made, because, “OK, it’s good enough for me.” Nobody’s going to push back. And in the case of my brother, we’re pushing back as much as we can.
AMY GOODMAN: Finally, of course, you are not the only one who’s accusing Israel of ethnic cleansing. Israel’s former Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon has accused Israel of ethnic cleansing and committing war crimes in Gaza. He served as Netanyahu’s defense minister from 2013 to '16, made the accusations several times over television, including on one of Israel's biggest TV channels. This is what he said, and we’re going to end with your comment after this.
MOSHE YA’ALON: [translated] To occupy, to annex, to cleanse, ethnic cleansing, look at the northern Gaza Strip and settle a Jewish settlement. That’s the point. … There is no Beit Lahia. There is no Beit Hanoun. They are operating in Jabaliya and are essentially clearing the area of Arabs.
AMY GOODMAN: That’s Israel’s former Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon. Your final comments, Hani?
HANI ALMADHOUN: This is our reality. This is the horrors my family faced. We’ve lost our brother last November. He is a full-time civilian, and they killed our brother. This is the price to pay for standing where we were raised. This is the memory of the Nakba. We learned our lesson from our grandparents who were ethnically cleansed. And now we refuse to do the same. But unfortunately, when they kill so many of our family members, our family relocated still in north Gaza, standing by, hoping that somebody watching, somebody listening, somebody from our government will definitely develop a conscience and try to save our people. This is no longer a war against terror. This is a war against the civilians in Palestine, including Gaza. Thank you so much."
Full transcript / listen / watch:
https://www.democracynow.org/2024/12/2/gaza_soup_kitchen#UNRWA #NorthGaza #IsraeliWarCrimes #Starvation #GazaAid #GazaFundraisers #FreePalestine #CeasefireNow #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #IsraelHumanRightsViolations
#StopArmingIsrael #WorldWarBibi #BeitLahiya #BaitLahiya #BibiIsAWarCriminal #Genocide #KhanYounes #Palestine #HumanRightsAreNeverWrong #NorthernGaza #Gaza #Assassination #Genocide #KamalAdwan #KamalAdwanHospital #ViewerSupportedNews #SaveTheChildren -
An update from #HaniAlmadhoun!
Hot meals 4 Starved Palestinian Kids in #NorthGaza
Update on November 1, 2024 by Hani Almadhoun, Organizer
"Salam, Hola and hello,
"Greetings from Utah, where my alma mater is located ! I’m here giving talks, lectures, and events, sharing my experiences with #UNRWA USA and the #GazaSoupKitchen in #Gaza. To my surprise, I found a lot of support, empathy, and understanding. The highlight so far has been meeting with Arab students , many of whom felt invisible on campus regarding the issue of Gaza. It was heartwarming for all of us .
"At the Gaza Soup Kitchen’s makeshift location in #NorthGaza , the crew serves meals daily, mainly rice or pasta with canned meat to enhance the flavor. Every day, they provide meals to around 250 families and deliver water before cooking . They even deliver mini pizzas to another shelter to extend support as widely as possible . It’s meaningful to be able to help daily, and we thank you for powering our kitchens. Even in the face of bombs , we remain committed to this mission.
"#ChefMahmoud shared how challenging conditions remain. Just yesterday, 16 #Palestinians were killed on the same block as the soup kitchen️. During this tragic event, the medical point we established sprang into action, with two nurses pitching in to help. Injured community members were brought in for care, but the reality is harsh—most needed a hospital, and the only available one, #KamalAdwan, is critically low on #food, #medicine, and equipment. It was a heartbreaking day .
"We hope to reopen the kitchen soon and bring the staff and community together once more . Thank you for keeping them in your prayers .
"In Al Zawaydah, the kitchen continues to see hundreds of weary, war-torn people. We’re there for them, and they know it . They appreciate the variety of meals, the ingredients we use, and the humility in our service. Every morning, the crew heads to the souk, gathers what they can, and begins cooking—a family kitchen creating one perfect meal, repeated 400 times a day . Today, we served a seasonal local favorite, which was received with gratitude . If you look at the photos, you’ll see the smiles —but also, please don’t miss the desperate need in those crowds. Hundreds of families lining up is not normal . Thank you for standing with us.
"Moving south to #Khan"Younes, we now serve breakfast every morning . Some days, it’s rice pudding, other days mini pizzas, falafel wraps, or anything we can create to brighten the kids’ days . We center our response on the children and ensure they’re always a priority ❤️.
"In the same community, Ms. Fatima continues her morning classes ️. Every day, she shows up for her students. Today, they learned the letter 'C,' using toy cars as an example . The students’ excitement and eagerness to learn, even in such conditions, are truly moving .
"Thank you so much for being here and choosing to stand with the Gaza Soup Kitchen . This work is not easy, but your support and partnership make it bearable . You help bring light and hope in the darkest times ✨. Your engagement give us the power to do what we do.
"P.S. Due to the ongoing #genocide and scarcity, we’re paying more for food in the south and spending extra time sourcing ingredients in North Gaza. We hope soon to be able to provide more variety than rice and pasta . And remember UNRWA is the backbone of the humanitarian operation in Gaza, there is no substitute."
Read more, share, and donate:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-in-gaza-daily#Starvation #GazaAid #GazaFundraisers #FreePalestine #CeasefireNow #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #GoFundMe #IsraelHumanRightsViolations
#StopArmingIsrael #WorldWarBibi #BeitLahiya -
Hot meals 4 Starved #Palestinian Kids in #NorthGaza
Update on September 21st, 2024 by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer
"Hello and salamat,
"A lot is happening, so please take a moment to sit down and, as always, thank you for being here and being invested in everything we do. Please take a moment of silence for all the victims of this #genocide that is now spreading to other countries while this heartless world watches on.
"New data has revealed the scale of aid obstruction, resulting in a drastic fall in aid entering #Gaza. This is driving a #humanitarian disaster, with the entire population of Gaza facing #hunger and #disease, and almost half a million at risk of #starvation.
"As #Israeli military attacks on Gaza intensify, lifesaving food, #medicine, medical supplies, #fuel, and tents have been systematically blocked from entering for almost a year.
"Firstly, I am honored to report that the #GazaSoupKitchen was featured again in an #AJ+ production about #FoodResistance in Palestine. You can see the video link below, where you will see Chef Mahmoud in action. All of you are mentioned there for your solidarity and support. Thank you. Anything we can do to alleviate the Palestinian voices on top of our #humanitarian work, we will do it and do it often.
"Regarding food, we continue to serve food and scale our operations. Remember, our food is home-cooked meals of quality, not large volume food made on the cheap for photos. This is a real issue where well-meaning folks cook things that people are wary of despite their hunger, leading to hospital visits. I salute everyone who serves food made for fellow humans with dignity and love. In #AlZawaydah, we now serve an additional 100 meals weekly on top of the 350 families we lovingly serve daily. These one hundred meals go to a makeshift refugee camp that has reached out for help and you have answered. We may expand that down the road. In Khan Younes, our teams have started doing something cool, delivering meal kits to displaced families. Like 55 families received onions, cooking oil, garlic, and animal protein today. Three days ago, they received a different meal kit with chicken. I know that my family, when they see these items, feel upset because none of these items are available to them. One single onion in North Gaza goes for 25 dollars, can you imagine? #ChefFaten and #ChefMahmoud still serve hot meals daily and continue to see increasing demand, as only 83 percent less aid was allowed into Gaza last month compared to 34% the month before.
"This week, we held two health days in Khan Younes, one dental day, and one for skin diseases in kids. Dr. Ibrahim led both days and helped about a hundred kids in total. This initiative was funded by a few friends in Ashville, North Carolina, under the Sumud Collective. We were happy to remove the hurdles and send a doctor to help in the heart of the displacement where folks don't need to worry about safety and transportation.
"You should also know that the #HealthClinic in North Gaza continues to work daily. Dr. Mohanned, nurses Fadia, and Ahmad serve 50 to 70 patients a day with love and excitement. Nurse Fadia, with her bubbly personality, is everyone's friend. When women need privacy, she meets with them and asks the males to leave the tent. We provide about 24-30 prescriptions a day, all free of charge, and we are happy to provide these as we purchase them. Our weekly budget for the clinic is 1000 dollars, and the total cost to set it up was 10k. The most expensive item was the energy solutions #batteries and #solar panels, which set us back 3500 dollars. The bulk of the cost for the clinic was shouldered by a Palestinian family living between the US and the Gulf. We are happy that you continue to support these ventures to ensure we have the resources we need to meet the needs every day.
"On the water front, we deliver at least four water trucks a day, two in Khan Younes, one in #AlZawaydah, and another in North Gaza. Each water truck costs about 200 dollars and serves 150 families or so based on how many containers each person brings. Another #Palestinian family stepped up to help us hook up a school that is sheltering 80 families to a nearby well. We provided the pipes, water tank, and a pump, which set us back a little over a thousand dollars. When we shared an update on this, another family stepped up and said count us in for two of these projects, so we are looking into making this impact in other places.
"Lastly, on #education, our new school should be opening tomorrow, and with the school starting this Monday, this is important because to the best of our knowledge, no one else has opened an entire school in Gaza where we took over an abandoned souk and turned it into a full school with nine classrooms, restrooms, and an admin office. You should brag about this for eternity because it's so awesome and it solves a big problem for kids, their families, and the community. We have teachers ready and a school principal eager to start teaching the 270 students who will receive official transcripts for their education. It will be the first time the Ministry of Education approves such a program since the genocide started in Gaza. Please pray for their safety. And you want to know something even better? The school only cost us 30k, a very low cost for such an ambitious project. Take a look at where our costs are in the attached recipe (sorry it's in Arabic). We run a classroom in #KhanYounes with Ms. Fatma that meets three times a week, and kids need these steps towards normalcy. Many others are running similar programs on their own, but a formal school like we are putting together has not happened before, and I hope it won't be the last. I share these updates to inspire others to do the same. We have seen more #SoupKitchens open after ours did (a sad fact about the need). Our health clinic inspired others to launch their own clinic, and we hope this school will do the same.
"Thank you for your solidarity,
- Hani"P.S. Remember, we are now a recognized US charity, and we would love for you to continue to share our updates and amplify our message because you know we both do this for our Palestinian siblings, and more people want to help. Nothing changes our commitment to doing the right thing without delay, and I hope you can join us."
#GoFundMe page:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-in-gaza-dailyVideo:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAG63JixelP/?igsh=dDdrbGkzb3QwZTEw#GazaAid #GazaFundraisers
#Palestinians #CeasefireNow #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #Starvation #GoFundMe #IsraelHumanRightsViolations -
Hot meals 4 Starved #Palestinian Kids in #NorthGaza
Update on September 14th, 2024 by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer
"Hello and welcome,"First, I want to express my deep gratitude to each of you. You and I both know the situation in #Gaza, as well as the #WestBank, has been nothing short of a nightmare. Every day, #Palestinians continue to bury their relatives, siblings, children, teachers, doctors, and friends. This reality is not sustainable, nor is it healthy—for anyone's mental well-being, especially for the Palestinians who have endured nearly a year of these relentless conditions. I thank you for staying engaged, for supporting the Palestinians, and for continuing to advocate for justice. Your support is vital.
"With that, I’d like to share some important updates, and I appreciate your patience as we navigate through them.
"I'm thrilled to announce that, starting yesterday, donations to our #GoFundMe page will now go directly into the #GazaSoupKitchen’s bank account, under our official American charity status. This is a significant step forward, eliminating the stress of having donations processed through my personal account. Now, we can continue providing meals, healing wounds, and caring for children through education and other small initiatives—all of which you'll hear more about shortly.
"One of our exciting projects is the creation of a new elementary school in #MashrouBaitLahia. We've transformed an abandoned souk into a functional space, and despite limited resources, we’re 80% done with construction. The biggest challenge right now is acquiring desks, but our team is exploring solutions. The local community is filled with excitement as they see this school taking shape, despite their ongoing struggles for safety. Once completed, the school will have eight classrooms, two bathrooms, and one administrative office. If you'd like to dedicate a classroom in memory or honor of a loved one, please reach out—no promises, but we’ll do our best. ❤️
"One of the most rewarding moments was organizing a health seminar outside our clinic, where we distributed diapers and formula to families with small children. About a dozen families attended, and it was incredibly moving to see their gratitude. Many of these families simply cannot afford formula or find it on the shelves. Thank you for making this possible—it restores faith in humanity and strengthens our community. #NurseFadia, who moved from the West Bank to Gaza 15 years ago, recorded a heartfelt video thanking all of you for your support. She highlighted the solidarity felt in helping families during this ongoing genocide. In addition to that event, our #HealthClinic served 70 patients with the help of two nurses and a doctor.
"Ms. Fatma, who runs a classroom for displaced children in #KhanYounes, continues her incredible work. This week, we sent Dr. Ibrahim, a #dentist, to teach the children about dental care and hygiene. He sent each child home with a toothbrush, toothpaste, and soap. Check out the photos on our social media for updates!
"In #NorthGaza, we've shifted from distributing food parcels to providing hygiene kits, including essentials like shampoo, wipes, sanitary pads, and body wash. People were growing tired of the canned food in the parcels, and hygiene products are a much-needed change. Once again, you came through for them.
"Our cooking efforts at both locations are in full swing. Hot, nutritious meals are being served daily with smiles and a lot of hard work. The #AlZawaydah location is now a cornerstone of the community in Gaza’s middle area, serving 300 regular families and seeing new faces every day. I’m proud of our team for preparing quality meals—some of them even gourmet—with the limited resources we have. A family of four in Gaza would spend at least $30 to prepare a meal, an unimaginable amount when daily wages in peacetime were just $8 to $10. Yet, our crew continues to rise to the challenge, serving their neighbors and fellow displaced Palestinians with love and dedication.
"#ChefFaten, my older sister, introduces new menu items every month, and the patrons truly appreciate our extra effort. ️ May we never have to live through another nightmare like this again. #ChefMahmoud continues to manage the kitchen and oversee our projects. Once the school is complete, we already have a principal and educator ready to take over its operations.
"All of this work requires funding, creativity, resources, and time. We give our time and talents freely, as we have done throughout this genocide. I ask that you ensure we have the resources to continue supporting our community whenever we see an opportunity. This is our culture, our work ethic, and our humanity. You have helped us carry through unimaginable hardship, and I hope you realize that this moment in history will inspire books, films, and countless stories of resilience. Thank you for standing with us through this devastation.
"Lastly, since we are now a tax-deductible charity in the U.S., you can ask your employer to match your donations. This will always remain a volunteer-run organization because we love serving our community. I have a day job that I love, which allows me to make a big impact for hundreds of thousands of people. Just last week, I had two media appearances to speak about the latest massacre at a school, which killed 18 Palestinians, including six UNRWA staff members.
"Thank you for your continued support and commitment to this cause. Together, we are making a difference. ✨"
https://www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-in-gaza-daily
#GazaAid #GazaFundraisers
#Palestinians #CeasefireNow #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #Starvation #GoFundMe #IsraelHumanRightsViolations -
Hot meals 4 Starved #Palestinian Kids in #NorthGaza
Update on July 17th, 2024 by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer
Hello, Hi, Salam Alykom and welcome everyone, and to those who are new here welcome to our GoFundMe page! You have come to the right place. But first I hope your summers are going as planned.
Thank you for being here.
Please allow me to give you a quick update on our operations in the #GazaStrip. This week, we are aiming to start two new locations for the #GazaSoupKitchen. One additional location will be in Khan Younes, a city south of Gaza. We decided to open this location because a soup kitchen in an area that was heavily bombed was taken out, and, unfortunately, many Palestinians were killed in the massacre. The crew decided to open a pop-up soup kitchen near the massacre site, and they served the first meals yesterday. It was an emotional experience, but we wanted to send a message to the community that we will not leave them alone. The plans came together quickly, and we served 180 families on our first day. The plan is to operate the kitchen in #KhanYounes twice a week, near where we also do daily water deliveries with water trucks.
In the north, we are about to open a new location for the Gaza Soup Kitchen, aiming to serve at least 200 families. This new location will be in the heart of #Jabalia refugee camp. The location was chosen because it is near six #UNRWA schools that have turned into shelters, leaving thousands of families without food. We will start providing hot meals at this new location on Friday with a new team. Stay tuned for an update. We are looking at cooking two dishes: rice and pasta.
In other news, we had a story published on #NPR this week. It came out as a strong profile of the soup kitchen and the operation side. It took about two months to get that story published, and they were quite pleased with the reporting and updates that were shared. There are a few corrections to the story, but overall, the author did a great job profiling our operation and talking about the situation. Here is the link.
The soup kitchen in Deir el-Balah continues to turn out meals daily for at least 250 families. The crew works six days a week, and on the seventh day, they partially work to distribute food parcels to the community instead of cooking. This way, those who want to work can, and those who want to rest can rest. They distribute about thirty food parcels every day in that location. These parcels come in handy as the contents can last a small family for a week. This time, they were happy to include fresh eggs, something we have done in Khan Younes but don’t find in the north. I am loving the new rivalry between the two kitchens, where they try to copy each other’s menus and take better pictures to show off their food. This competition serves the community as each team tries to outdo the other in serving meals that they would love to eat themselves in a clean environment.
In the north, with #ChefMahmoud and #ChefFaten, they continue to whip up popular meals. Sometimes it’s rice, sometimes it’s pasta, and other times it’s a new dish like sumakia, a Palestinian dish. They always make sure to complement whatever meal they make with rice, bread, or pasta. They continue to attract regulars as well as new people who have moved nearby. You can see the pictures from today, where they made a new dish: a shawarma roll made from canned meat, seasoned, wrapped in fresh saj bread, grilled, and served with chocolate milk. People loved this dish and asked for it again, so the kitchen was happy to cook it for them. They told me they must have opened no less than 300 cans of meat. Keep in mind that canned meat is available in north Gaza and comes with the aid, which typically includes flour and a few canned goods.
We do #water distribution in three service areas daily now. We also deliver food parcels and helped one stranded family in a dangerous part of town relocate to a relatively safer place. A friend of ours started a GoFundMe page for our water operation in memory of her late father. You can find it if you look for it.
In addition, we hired two dentists who serve in two areas and provide kids with basic dental care and instructions. But our biggest impact, as you know, is at our kitchens. While we expand every day, we look forward to the day we can close down these kitchens because they are no longer needed.
Please know that my family and our neighbors send you their gratitude every day for your compassion and your association with this initiative. You give us confidence to always search for ways to help the folks who have suffered plenty. As I promise you, not a day goes by without the team hearing from me about the importance of kindness and patience but also being able to offer help with a smile. I can tell you that we take pride in our work and we want you to know you and us are making a difference every day in Gaza. For example earlier today I posted a video of a crew member celebrating together after finishing a long day, you may see it here.
If the staff are happy the regulars will see it. ❤️✊
Hani
P.S. In the interest of transparency, if you would like more details about the cost of our operations, please message me. I would be happy to send you a PDF that gives you extra details about how much everything costs.
GoFundMeLink:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-in-gaza-daily#GazaAid #GazaFundraisers
#Palestinians #CeasefireNow #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife