#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

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-daily

Video:
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.

https://www.npr.org/2024/07/16/nx-s1-5025629/a-palestinian-american-raises-more-than-1-million-to-feed-his-family-and-others-in-gaza

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.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/hanifundraiser_after-a-long-day-of-work-the-crew-in-north-activity-7219426243530629120-JmAk?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android

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

Update on #Fundraiser: Hot meals 4 Starved #Palestinian Kids in north Gaza

Update, June 8th, 2024 by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer

"Today was a terrible day, and it hit me hard when I saw a video of a Palestinian man weeping over the little dead body of his boy, kissing him as he felt desperate and helpless. It broke me, and I felt so small. As a father, I kept thinking to myself, this is truly unfathomable, the injustices. I didn't want to do anything else for the day. My wife saw this and recognized what was going on, and she immediately asked me who was killed today. 'The innocent children,' I answered. But then I told myself that those who survive still need to eat, so I grabbed my phone to get updates from our teams.

"In Khan Younis, we are going strong on three weeks of free drinking water distribution. This spreads little doses of happiness on the faces of the families who find out the water is free for them and right outside their tent. They fetch their biggest jug and fill up. I don't know about you, but this gives me hope. It's so small, but to them, it gets them through the day and makes life a bit easier as they face a whole bunch of evil things happening to them.

"In the Deir el-Balah area in the heart of the Gaza Strip, our team refuses to take a day off and cooks every day. Today, they cooked under bombardment and got scared for their lives. They sent me a video from their tent kitchen, and not too far from where they are, a bomb came down. They cooked up Egyptian Koshari today, and it was well received—the rice, the pasta, the lentils, the tomato sauce, and the caramelized onions. The day before, they cooked a stew. The average age of our crew at the Gaza Soup Kitchen South is 23. You can imagine how much they have to live for.

"At the original Gaza Soup Kitchen in North Gaza, we baked a lot of pizzas and loaves, more than five thousand pieces to be exact, enough to provide for 700 people. Keep in mind we make good food, not just for photos. People take home these goods and show gratitude to all of you. I told #ChefMahmoud to double everything, spare no dime, hire more women to bake more. And they did. They added two new women to the staff, who baked all day and went home with filling baked treats that filled their stomachs and hearts. Chef Mahmoud does not really bake; he solves problems, buys what they need, and runs the operation. #ChefFaten preps the dough and prepares the baked goods, and they help bake it on three different ovens thanks to fire made by pallets that got chopped up and tossed in the oven. My siblings take pride in their food and show people a lot of respect and courtesy. Sometimes people get antsy or impatient, so we talk about ways to handle that and de-escalate. Things are looking better every day because our patrons know this is a family operation for their families—no gimmicks.

"Lastly, we also gave away packs of bread today in #NorthGaza but in a different neighborhood west of our family. This time, we went to a new shelter and sent them bread and your solidarity. They appreciated both.

"Today, I will try to share some photos, but they might not be as uplifting as the ones you have seen in the past. I hope these photos inspire you to take some action to help bring about better conditions in Gaza.

"In unity,
Hani

"P. S. We will keep our doors open, this is where we live and this is who we love. Even when it's unsafe to operate, we will pivot to helping in another way or serve another area. We are also working on some plans for the eid."

https://www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-in-gaza-daily

#GazaAid #GazaFundraisers
#Palestinians #CeasefireNow