#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,
Hani

P.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 Kitchen

P. 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-daily

ABC 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."

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/hanifundraiser_my-dad-shared-this-story-with-me-today-activity-7350628795113971712-Mkf6

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