Hi Reader, Our hearts are broken for the people of Iran as the U.S. and Israel rain down bombs on civilians. We grieve the more than 1,000 lives that have been needlessly lost so far, especially the scores of school girls in Minab whose promising young lives were cut short. As you've likely seen in the news, the effects of the assault on Iran are rippling far beyond the country's borders. Our families in Gaza are being impacted in significant ways. While we're still getting reports from...
13 days ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, Ramadan Kareem to all who are celebrating the holy month of fasting, worship, and generosity! As a Christian I have been thinking about what it means that the Islamic month of Ramadan and the Christian season of Lent began on the same day this year - which has not happened in 126 years. For me it's a reminder of how much we share in common no matter where we live or how we worship. For the 25 families Coffees for Gaza is in relationship with, Ramadan is an incredibly special time....
20 days ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, If you've been part of the Coffees for Gaza community for a while, you've probably heard us talk about Abdullah Ziad's family. While all 25 of the families we're in relationship with have endured trauma during the genocide, the amount of pain and danger that Abdullah has experienced is hard to wrap our minds and hearts around. Abdullah and his wife Haneen have four young children: Mohammed, Ziad, Omar and Amir. Abdullah has complex health conditions including diabetes that he can...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, When I first "met" Nourhan's family, it was through an Instagram video of her daughter Najat, then 4 years old, enthusiastically cooking in their tent. She had such a sweet and hopeful spirit, despite all the trauma that she, her mother, and her little brother Mohammed had been through. Over the last two years, I've lost count of how many times Nourhan and her children were displaced. They had several brushes with violence that were incredibly close calls. Through it all, Nourhan...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Often in our newsletter I share with you the hardships that our families are facing in Gaza. Those hardships are still very much present, but today I want to offer a roundup of good news from our families and volunteers. Together, as a collective, we are making an impact. Take a moment to celebrate with us the following good news! Welcome baby Rayan! 👶🏽Oday and Rawan recently welcomed their second child, baby Rayan, into the world! Mom, Dad, and big brother Yaman are so proud. If...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, Today I'd like to tell you more about one of our 25 families: Fadi, his wife Alaa, and their three daughters: Danya (age 13), Kinda (age 10), and Leen (age 7.) Fadi and Alaa often call the girls their "flowers." The family's original home is in Gaza City, and it was destroyed in the early days of the war. Fadi worked for a large bank as a International Investment Consultant. Before the genocide began, Alaa was hoping to open a shop. During the war, they were displaced multiple...
2 months ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, As we get settled into this new year, I want to share an update on Coffees for Gaza that you have missed during the holiday hustle and bustle. Coffees for Gaza is entering a period of transition, both in terms of how we financially support families and in terms of our volunteer leadership. We need your help to ensure that our work continues, so that we can fulfill the commitment we have made to our 25 families in Gaza. Impact Step #1: Become a monthly Family Sponsor For as little...
2 months ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, Are you still scrambling to take care of a few last minute holiday gifts? Making a gift to a Coffees for Gaza family in honor of a loved one is a simple and meaningful option. Billy Ruffian has created a beautiful downloadable card that you can give to the person you are honoring. Here's how to make a gift and download the card: 1) Choose a family and make a gift to their fundraising campaign. If you don't already have a particular family in mind, the following families have...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, We have a lot of news in this email update: Meet Salam and Mohammed's family Winter flooding and cold destroys several families' belongings A beautiful holiday card to let a loved one know you've given to a Coffees for Gaza family in their honor A virtual baby shower for Oday and Rawan Attention monthly donors on Open Collective: action needed 1) Meet Salam and Mohammed's family Salam and Mohammed recently joined our list of families who are in the most urgent need and have...
3 months ago • 4 min read