what I wish people would understand about fundraising for gaza is that while everyone is desperate and I would never say not to fundraise for or donate to individual families-- I currently fundraise to support multiple friends' families-- the overwhelming narrative I see on Tumblr that the best and most ethical thing you can do is send money to individuals and there is no option for anything else is so so incredibly damaging and inadvertently lends support to the marginalization and distrust of any remaining communal social infrastructure. the sameer project, which you should donate to, talks about this in a recent video they put out. the situation in gaza is unimaginable and everyone is in need of a huge level of support, and yet this fundraising discourse by well-meaning people in the west that donating money to individuals is the only moral way reproduces societal divides wherein resources are directed to people who speak English, who have relationships with people outside of gaza, and who have internet access while hundreds of thousands are left behind.
there ARE non-ngo locally based grassroots initiatives working to meet those needs however they can, and your small donation goes a lot further with them because they are able to buy food/water/supplies in bulk at a reduced price and reach more people with less money. again I'm not saying people shouldn't fundraise for individuals because these initiatives are so limited and many people cannot access them -- but as an example, the group I fundraise with is currently serving people fleeing north gaza who are starving and have nothing, and when we fundraise enough to do cash aid distribution there's so much need that our partners can only distribute 100-200 per large family. and then I go online and see people who have absolutely no understanding of this context at all exclusively working towards raising tens of thousands for just a few people when evacuations haven't been possible for months. it's good to do whatever you can but please consider how this narrative being reproduced among westerners trying to help that there are no other options has the potential to damage groups working towards equity and wider reach however is still possible
Amidst the Ruins of War and the Pain of Illness: A Mother's Journey to Save Her Son
One morning, the sun rose like any other day… but it wasn’t just another day.
It was Saturday, October 7th, and I woke up early, filled with hope and excitement, ready to head to my new job as a pharmacist — a dream I had long aspired to. I had landed the job just a week before the devastating war broke out. It was 5 a.m., and my responsibilities as both a mother and a pharmacist intertwined. I was preparing breakfast and lunch at the same time, getting clothes ready for my young son, Youssef, who was only 17 months old. We were supposed to go together to the nursery next to my workplace, where I had planned for an ordinary day, filled with work and life.
But fate had something different in store for us.
Suddenly... the missiles rained down.
Everything around us turned into smoke and terror. All the dreams I had painted for myself and my son’s future vanished in that moment. It felt like the world had crumbled around me. I called my manager, apologized for not being able to go to work, and told him I had no choice but to flee. Our home in East Gaza was no longer safe. From the experience of four wars and six escalations, we knew the west was usually safer.
As I hurried to pack up and prepare Youssef for the evacuation, I saw the fear in his little eyes. He looked at me softly, with the innocence of a child who had never known war, and asked, "Mama, what’s that loud sound?" How could I explain to him that it was the sound of destruction? I gently said, "Sweetheart, that’s thunder, the sky is going to rain."
But the truth was, the sky wasn’t going to rain anything but fire.
Youssef, my son, suffers from a chronic illness.
Just four months before this war, doctors discovered that Youssef had grade four esophageal varices, a serious condition. The only treatment was available in Israel. I had been taking him there for treatment with medical and security permits. His next surgery was scheduled for October 29th, but now everything was in turmoil.
We fled to the home of relatives in the west of the strip, trying to adjust to our new reality, gathering food and preparing ourselves for the worst. But the worst was yet to come. One day, on a Thursday, the house next to us was bombed, and the rubble fell on us. I screamed his name, searching for him through the debris. But God was merciful. Youssef emerged safely from the wreckage, and in that moment, I knew I would do anything to protect him.
The next day, came the order to evacuate from the north to the south.
My only thought was: How will I treat Youssef? How will I secure his needs amid this chaos? We fled to the central part of the strip, beginning a new chapter of suffering — finding food, water, gas for cooking. Everything became a battle.
Youssef couldn’t eat normally because of his illness. He survived on boiled eggs and fried potatoes, and I desperately tried to get him to eat some tahini to stimulate his appetite. With every bite he took, I exhaled a sigh of relief, knowing that my strength as a mother wasn’t just about feeding him but keeping him alive in the midst of lethal circumstances.
But time was not on our side.
Weeks passed, and his symptoms began to show again.
On December 17th, Youssef started vomiting blood. My heart jumped out of my chest as I rushed him into my arms and headed to the only central hospital. They did what they could with their limited resources, but they refused to refer him for treatment abroad, claiming his case wasn’t urgent enough. There were cancer patients, children with amputated limbs, and thousands of similar stories, all fighting for the same scarce medical attention.
But I wasn’t going to give up. We submitted the request for a referral and waited for our turn and a chance to travel, but the fear never left me.
Youssef, with his innocent nature, asks me every night, “Mama, when will we go back to our beautiful home?”
How do I answer? Do I tell him that our house no longer exists, just like everything else we lost? I would tell him, "Soon, my love, soon." He would then ask for his favorite green car. I promised him I’d buy him a new one when we found it, but each night he would fall asleep, and the car never came.
As I lived through this daily anxiety, the painful decision arrived.
My husband and I decided to sell everything we owned and borrow what we could so we could travel before the border closed and Rafah was overtaken. Travel was our last hope for Youssef’s treatment, but what we didn’t know was that fate was already reshaping our tragedy.
The border was closed, Rafah was completely destroyed.
The dream of treating my son now seemed unreachable. I watched him grow before my eyes, suffering — not only from his internal bleeding illness but also from the destruction that surrounded us from all sides. Every day, I see the pain growing in his innocent eyes, and I feel an overwhelming sense of helplessness, as a mother, as a pharmacist, as a human being, unable to save him from this nightmare.
I cannot describe the weight of the pain that resides in my heart now; Youssef, who should be playing and laughing, is living every day under the weight of his illness and the fires filling the skies above us. Every night, after his questions about his green car and "when will we go back home?" I try to stay strong, but inside, endless tears of helplessness flow.
I am fighting to keep my son alive, but each day, I see the hope slipping further away…
Writing these words has been one of the most daunting challenges I've ever faced. Findi… Kamel Shahwan needs your support for Help
when you hear a trans man saying he likes 80s movies, you know you'll hear some weird shit. green liquids. guy chopping his arm off with a chainsaw. talking evil plant. gay ass vampires. what the fuck
hey yall, I want to spotlight @aboodfamily30's campaign, his wife is in need of urgent care and they have to pay for the surgery very quickly. there was about $70 left to afford the treatment (I just sent $10 USD). they need it by tomorrow.
in his own words:
https://gofund.me/3bb83343
$60 left to get the treatment his wife needs!! can someone match my $10 donation? 💗
winter is returning to gaza which means white phosphorous acid rain, polio infected sewage flooding, and bitter cold with no shelter. tents are not enough.
siraj's family has 10 children in it, many under the age of 12, two newborns, and two elderly people who are susceptible to disease. his mother has diabetes, which anyone knows needs frequent monitoring and medical care. he and his family just recovered from skin infections and he doesn't want to see them suffer from all the disease the winter will bring.
siraj found a place to rent but its 1400 CAD a month. the lease lasts 6 months - he needs to raise $8400 CAD / $6253 USD as soon as possible before winter gets really ugly so he can secure his family's safety.
siraj is trying to rebuild his life. he doesn't want to let the zionist entity kick him out. he's staring this genocide in the face and telling them he doesn't care what they do, he's not leaving.
yet, he's really far from his goal. and things are moving really slowly. i don't know how many times i can repeat this same information. things change but the brutality of what they face stays the same.
please donate and share
vetted #219
hi, my name is ahmad and I'm raising a fund for my cousin Siraj and thi… Ahmad Abudayeh needs your support for Support Siraj's Family in Reb
A Final Plea from the Heart of Hell: Save Us Before Hope Dies 🔥
Hi, I'm Hani 🤗
Title : Donation Campaign to Save Hani and His Family: Their… Hani Yasser needs your support for Rebuilding the Homeland and Restoring Ho
I am Hani, a 26-year-old young man from Gaza. I no longer have anything but words, written by a trembling hand ✍️. The war didn’t just destroy our lives; it took everything from us. Our home, the refuge that once sheltered us, is now a pile of rubble 🏚️. My car, my only source of livelihood, was destroyed in a sudden strike 🚗, and the work that once sustained us is now a distant memory 💼.
Today, I live in an unending nightmare. Under a sun that burns everything in its path 🌞🔥, my family and I sit in a worn-out tent, a tent that neither shields us from the summer heat nor the winter cold ❄️. Insects 🦟 invade the place, diseases consume our bodies 🩺, and my younger siblings cry from hunger and thirst 🍞💧. We have no clean water, nor a crumb of bread to ease our hunger. Each passing day deepens the weight of this hell we live in.
My Little Brother is Dying of Fear 😨
My little brother, seven years old, is dying of fear. His eyes never stop crying 😢. Every morning, with a voice choked by tears, he asks me: "When will we go back to our home?" But I have no answer. Every look in his eyes 👁️, every tear that falls from them 💧, crushes my heart 💔. How can I explain to him that the hope which once was our lifeline has now turned into nothing but a mirage?
The Night Only Adds to Our Pain 🌙
The night doesn’t bring us rest, it only adds to our pain. We sleep on hard ground, feeling the in every bone of our bodies 🥶, with nothing but pieces of cardboard 📦 to cover us. My older sister cries in silence 🥺 as she watches the future fade before her eyes. My sick mother, in desperate need of medical care 🩺💊, suffers in complete silence. My father, who was once the pillar of our family 👨👧👦, is now confined by his own weakness, unable to move or work.
We Are Nearing the End ⚰️
Every day we live brings us one step closer to the end. Death surrounds us from every side: if not from hunger 🍽️, then from illness 🦠. And if not from illness, then from the despair that devours our souls.
Where is Humanity?💔 Where is the World? 🌍
Where are the people of compassion? Are you waiting for us to vanish into the depths of this suffering? Are you waiting until death takes us before you act? We are drowning, and we don’t have enough strength to scream for help 🆘. Will you let this cry go unanswered? 😭
Your donation today is our last thread of hope. Thanks to a few people, I was able to buy a simple phone 📱 to reach out to you, but the bitter truth is that what I and my family need is much greater. We are not asking for much; just enough to save our lives from this hell 🔥. Every donation, no matter how small, could be the difference between life and death for us 👐.
Don’t Let Us Disappear in the Darkness of Suffering 🌑
Don’t let our story end here. Be the light that guides us to salvation 🕯️✨.
Title : Donation Campaign to Save Hani and His Family: Their… Hani Yasser needs your support for Rebuilding the Homeland and Restoring Ho
With every tear, with every pain, I write this final plea to you,
found in a goodwill in columbus ohio. there is nothing else on the shirt to help me determine its true meaning. it’s really nicely embroidered. what does it fucking mean (i bought it btw. #bridgefailurelife)
This is Hamada (right) and his twin brother, Mohammed (left) who live with the rest of their family in a tent in Gaza.
I've recently had the pleasure of connecting with Hamada in order to set up a GoFundMe campaign so he can support his family with basic necessities, and hopefully one day evacuate to safety.
He needs your help to do this!
I can personally vouch for him and the authenticity of his story, and have sent him funds myself. He has sent me pictures from the closest place to get an internet connection, which is a kilometer from his tent. He lost access to the first campaign he tried to set up, which was a huge blow to both his hope and his progress.
You can find his instagram at @/gaza_hamada1996 to find more photos and videos of his beautiful family and their dire situation.
If you have anything to spare, please consider giving to his campaign!
Hello! My name is Scooter Rothman, I live in Wisconsin and I'm helping to rai… Scooter Rothman needs your support for Help Hamada's Family B
My house was destroyed and I lost my job and everything we had in this country. I feel great pain writing for you, as I have to start this campaign to save myself and my people from this human disaster. We live in harsh conditions, and we only have hope after being displaced several times from our home. Now, we are fighting for the most basic necessities to survive - drinking food and water.. Imagine with me that you wake up every day and don't know how to get a meal for your kids. Imagine the anxiety that grips you as you try so hard to protect your family from hunger and thirst. This is our daily reality. Your donation, no matter how small, can have a great impact. It can provide us with a meal, a clean water bottle, or a moment of safety under these difficult conditions. Every donation brings with it a ray of hope, alleviates our suffering and gives us strength to face a new day. Please donate and support the resilience of the Gazan people, especially citizens in the north of the Gaza Strip, and share this campaign with your friends and families. Together, we can make a difference and help my family get through this ordeal. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your generosity and support. My warm greetings. Motaz
I want to save the lives of my family and escape death.
I hope you will help by donating and reblog
Vetted by @90-ghost 🇵🇸🇵🇸
🆘🆘
Every 1110 kr= 100$
My name is Mohamed Jadalhaq, and I currently reside in Sweden. I am … Mohamed Jadalhaq needs your support for Defend my brother's family fro
Please help Dr. Feeda and Motaz ensure the safety of their children Their campaign has been very slow and even after getting verified they've barely gained any traction and are still extremely low on funds please consider helping this family
2,400/23,670$ or 2,200/21,700€
the currency in the gfm is in SEK so please don't be daunted by the large number 1$=10.5sek or 1€=11.5sek Even a small donation of 10/20/50$ will mean a lot and go a long way for them!!
@/amvs4palestine will make an amv for you if you donate to them so please please help Feeda and Motaz!
I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to share an urgent plea for help. Due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, my family and I have been forced to flee our home and seek refuge in Khan Younis. My mother, who is pregnant, is in critical need of assistance to ensure her safety and the safety of her unborn child.
We are facing severe hardships and are struggling to provide her with the necessary medical care and basic necessities. I have launched a campaign to raise funds for my mother's survival during this perilous time.
Your support in sharing our campaign on social media could make a life-saving difference. Please help us spread the word and gather the support we desperately need.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Sincerely,
Please help us by sharing the post on your page so that we can collect donations and get out of the war. You are our hope. I will be very grateful to you . ❤️🙏🏼
"this fundraiser is vetted by nabulsi, fallahifag, el-shab-hussein, ibtisams, sayruq"
yes of course!
this fundraiser is vetted on @/el-shab-hussein and @/nabulsi’s google sheet of vetted fundraisers (it’s #152, which is row 156 on the sheet). Please spread this!
