Food for Syria

Join us in partnering with Al Rahemon (alrahemon.org), a Turkey-based organization founded and operated by Syrian refugees with the goal of providing much needed health supplies and food to families in Idlib and Northern Syria.  

"The situation is very difficult in this region," Naef Abdulaziz, the executive director or Al Rahemon, told me this month.  In addition to war refugee families continuing to receive little outside aid,  COVID-19 has wreaked further havoc in these areas. "Because of Corona virus, family have had to stop working, and they are unable to secure their basic needs and winter heating materials." 

Due to my relationship with Naef, this fundraiser provides an opportunity for those of us blessed with abundance to deliver immediate, much needed supplies.

The  Story

In 2017, I had the opportunity to travel to the Turkey/Syria border and conduct art therapy workshops for displaced Syrian refugee children.  I was surprised to find almost no foreign humanitarian aid taking place in this area. Aid, we've learned, has been extremely limited due to the danger in the region.  

While there, I made a connection with a small Syrian organization named Al Rahemon (the name means mercy) formed to help provide relief, healing and love for the outcast families in Northern Syria. 

Naef and I share the belief that love is the thing that can win this war. Al Rahemon has a vision for many  projects toward that end, including food relief, health baskets, trauma counseling for children, and more.  So far,  through fundraising, we've  been able to conduct three of these projects.

Yes the need is great, but above all, we're motivated by the belief that love is not passive.  Join us in letting these children know they are not alone by serving this crucial need!

The Need

1. Syria's civil war has created the worst humanitarian crisis of our time.  An estimated 11 million people have been killed or forced to flee their homes.  Half of them are children.

2. Humanitarian aid has been extremely limited.  3 million people remain in hard-to-reach areas where aid is rarely supplied due to insecurity.  The worst hit of these areas is the city of Idlib, where healthcare centers and hospitals, schools, utilities, and water and sanitation systems are damaged or destroyed.

3. Children are sick, living in hard-to-reach areas, without income, homes, or basic necessities. "Most families have lost one or more family members, often the father, their income provider," said Naef.  "And most families have sick or wounded who need health care." 

4. The lack of sterilization and cleaning supplies have made the situation very dire.  Many families that had found work before are now unable to work due to COVID.  This is creating an even more dangerous situation where people are unable to secure basic needs and winter heating materials.

The plan

Our goal for this benefit is to deliver health and food boxes for 25 families in Idlib and the surrounding areas in Northern Syria. These families have been pre-identified by  Al Rahemon  as those most in need.

Each box contains disenfectants, detergents and some food essentials such as sugar, rice, oil, etc.  

Thank you!

Whatever amount we can raise will be sent by wire transfer to the the Al Rahemon organization's Turkey-based bank account. 

Thank you for your generous financial and moral support. This is how love wins!