#GazaSoupKitchen Update

March 15, 2026 by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer

"Friends, supporters, allies —

Tonight is Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Power, and I wanted to share a personal update from the last ten days here at the Gaza Soup Kitchen. I hope you’ll read this as a conversation, because that’s what this work is: real people, real families, real moments, not just numbers or logistics.

A lot of people aren’t paying close attention to #Gaza right now, and that’s understandable. People here don’t want to always be in the news. But they also don’t want to suffer in silence.

Silence, right now, looks like this: in March alone, food prices in Gaza rose by at least 37%, and they continue to climb. A small piece of clothing for a child for Eid can cost $60, when the same item might sell for $20 elsewhere. Aid has slowed, deliveries cut to a fraction of what they were — 80 trucks a day instead of 250–300. Prices spike, families struggle, and every day is harder than the last.

For our team, this means every meal costs more. Every food parcel is more expensive. But we refuse to compromise. The meals we serve in hospitals continue to include animal protein because families here have already been forced into mostly vegetarian diets for far too long. Nutrition, dignity, and care matter — even if it’s harder or more expensive to provide.

Running the kitchen is exhausting. Driving across Gaza to coordinate deliveries. Writing updates and responding to emails. Balancing logistics with compassion. There’s no real gain here, no profit, no easy path. The only reason we keep showing up is because it is needed, because the people we serve are counting on us, and because the smiles, the laughter, the moments of joy — even amid hardship — are worth everything.

During Ramadan, one of the things we’ve done is host communal iftars. Elderly folks gather, laugh, tease each other, sometimes even play small games. For a few hours, they feel lighter, younger, alive in a way that the day-to-day challenges can’t take away.

Today, we hosted a special program for children who are orphaned or separated from their parents. We brought live characters to dance and sing with them, set up face painting, served food — and yes, even cotton candy. These little touches are not easy, not cheap, but they bring joy and dignity in a situation that is otherwise incredibly difficult.

Everything we do is family-first. Mothers, sisters, daughters, brothers cook as they would for their own families. Portions go home just like they would in a family kitchen. We never compromise on quality, because the people we serve deserve the care we would want for our own families. Our name is on this work because it is personal, not commercial.

Looking ahead, we are planning a few changes to make our work even more effective. We’ll slightly reduce the size of some food parcels to expand the number of kitchens we operate. We’ll expand our hospital meal programs — right now we serve two hospitals, and after Ramadan we hope to serve at least three. Food parcels are important, but hot meals reach the families and children most in need, where hunger is visible, urgent, and unavoidable.

During Ramadan, we delivered around 35,000 food parcels — a massive effort — but still only about 10% of Gaza’s population. That’s a small fraction of the need. So we focus on where every dollar is spent wisely: hot kitchens, hospital meals, clean water deliveries, and programs that bring dignity and care.

This Ramadan, there is also something deeply meaningful that fills us with pride and hope. We’ve seen mosques raising funds for the Gaza Soup Kitchen, collectives of rabbis from Ceasefire, and even a few churches around the country coming together to support families in Gaza. Moments like these remind us of the good in humanity, of the ways people reach across divides to care for others. It’s a badge of honor to witness it — and a reminder that, even in the hardest times, kindness persists.

This work is exhausting, yes. It can make you cry. It can make you smile in the same moment. But it is also deeply human. The smiles on children’s faces. The laughter of elders at iftar. Families receiving a parcel that truly sustains them. These moments remind us why we keep showing up, day after day, even when it’s hard.

And none of this would be possible without you — your trust, your generosity, your willingness to stand with Gaza when the world’s attention shifts elsewhere. Every meal, every parcel, every program is made possible by your support. You make it possible for us to keep showing up for people who need it most.

From all of us here, with deep gratitude and respect for the resilience of the communities we serve: thank you. Thank you for being part of this family. Thank you for helping us hold space for dignity, care, and humanity in the hardest of circumstances.

With gratitude and heart,
Hani and the Board of the Gaza Soup Kitchen"

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

Donate to Hot meals 4 Starved Palestinian Kids in north Gaza, organized by Hani Almadhoun

Do you know what it’s like to watch your family starve? I do. My… Hani Almadhoun needs your support for Hot meals 4 Starved Palestinian Kids in north Gaza

gofundme.com

#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

Donate to Hot meals 4 Starved Palestinian Kids in north Gaza, organized by Hani Almadhoun

Do you know what it’s like to watch your family starve? I do. My… Hani Almadhoun needs your support for Hot meals 4 Starved Palestinian Kids in north Gaza

gofundme.com

I am honored to have survived to see the day that people actually "get it" now

#FoodIsLife and #ThisIsNotFood

#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

Donate to Hot meals 4 Starved Palestinian Kids in north Gaza, organized by Hani Almadhoun

Do you know what it’s like to watch your family starve? I do. My… Hani Almadhoun needs your support for Hot meals 4 Starved Palestinian Kids in north Gaza

gofundme.com

#MaineVoicesForPalestinianRights
Recurring #Standouts & #MiniRallies

#BangorME
Wednesday - 12PM Noon
6 State St (Kenduskeag Bridge)

Bangor
Saturday - 11AM
Peirce Park

#BelfastME
Sunday - 12PM Noon
Post Office Square

#BlueHillME
Saturday - 12PM Noon
Blue Hill Town Hall

#BucksportME
Saturday - 12:30PM
Bucksport-Verona Bridge

#BrunswickME
Thursday - 12PM Noon
Maine St (at Tontine Mall)

Brunswick
Friday - 5PM
Maine Street (by Walgreens)

#CamdenME
Friday - 5PM
Camden Village Green

#DoverFoxcroftME
Saturday - 9AM
Main Street Bridge

#EllsworthME
Sunday - 12PM Noon
Union River Bridge

#FarmingtonME
Saturday - 10AM
Post Office

#NewcastleME
Thursday - 3PM
Newcastle-#Damariscotta Bridge

#PortlandME
Saturday - 1PM
Longfellow Square

#PortsmouthNH
Saturday-Thursday - 12PM Noon
Market Square

#RocklandME
2nd + 4th Thursdays - 4PM
Main St & Park St

#SacoME
Friday - 3:30PM
General Dynamics

Source:
https://www.mvprights.org/events#block-a15fa12ef4b264f29ded

#MaineResists #NHResists #MaineEvents #FreePalestine
#Genocide #Gaza #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #HumanRights #HumanRightsAreNeverWrong
#IsraeliWarCrimes #BibiIsAWarCriminal
#MaineVoicesForPeace

Community Events — Maine Voices for Palestinian Rights

Maine Voices for Palestinian Rights

#AugustaME - #VoicesForHumanity, an alumni group at #UniversityOfMaine at Augusta, is planning a #Palestine standout across the street from the #MaineStateHouse in Augusta.

Saturday, January 17, 2026
2:00 PM to 3:30 PM

Across from Maine State House 33 Union Street Augusta, ME, 04330 United States

Source:
https://www.mvprights.org/events/augusta-stand-out-pl9ta

#MaineEvents #FreePalestine #Genocide #Gaza #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #HumanRights #HumanRightsAreNeverWrong #IsraeliWarCrimes #BibiIsAWarCriminal #MaineVoicesForPalestinianRights

Augusta Stand-Out — Maine Voices for Palestinian Rights

Voices for Humanity, an alumni group at University of Maine at Augusta, is planning a Palestine standout across the street from the State House in Augusta.

Maine Voices for Palestinian Rights

#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

Donate to Hot meals 4 Starved Palestinian Kids in north Gaza, organized by Hani Almadhoun

Do you know what it’s like to watch your family starve? I do. My… Hani Almadhoun needs your support for Hot meals 4 Starved Palestinian Kids in north Gaza

gofundme.com

List of aid groups working in #Gaza that Israel is suspending

Updated 10:38 AM EST, December 30, 2025

JERUSALEM (AP) — "Israel says it’s suspending #humanitarian organizations that have failed to meet its new rules to vet international groups working in the #GazaStrip.

"They include some of the world’s most prominent and outspoken aid organizations, including #DoctorsWithoutBorders.

"The suspension begins Jan. 1. International organizations have said Israel’s rules are arbitrary and could endanger staff. Israel has accused militant groups of operating under the cover of international organizations, something the groups deny.

"The Israeli defense body that oversees humanitarian aid to Gaza, COGAT, said that the organizations on the list contribute less than 1% of the total aid going into the Gaza Strip, and that help will continue to enter from organizations that did receive permits to continue operating in Gaza. "

https://apnews.com/article/gaza-humanitarian-aid-suspension-israel-ec535cea548ddc75080f1e6bffe53801

#HumanRightsViolations #GazaAid #FreePalestine #Fundraisers #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #Palestine #Genocide #Starvation #IsraeliWarCrimes
#HumanRightsAreNeverWrong #BibiIsAWarCriminal

List of aid groups working in Gaza that Israel is suspending

Israel says it's suspending humanitarian organizations that have failed to meet its new rules to vet international groups working in Gaza. They include some of the world’s most prominent and outspoken aid organizations including medical charity Doctors Without Borders. The suspension begins on Jan. 1. International organizations have said Israel’s rules are arbitrary and could endanger staff.

AP News

The leg of mutton in the oven is now 4 hours into its 12-hour "extremely slow" slow-cooking journey. It lies in n a very dense and rich chicken stock with a host of root veggies, temperature is well below simmering. After 4 hours, the magic transformation is just beginning to show. The real change will happen after 8-9 hours. Perfection after 12 hours. (Patience is a virtue.)

#SlowCooking #mutton #FoodIsLife #CookingForTheFamily #patience

#India - Seeds of #Resistance for #FoodSovereignty

April 2017

Excerpt: "Community action-reflection-action processes to identify and analyse the forces that obstruct food sovereignty, and evolve collective transformative actions for food sovereignty is a core practice of our movement. Community food sovereignty plans have emerged as a critical expression of political action.

"Life cycles amongst #adivasi communities, and agriculture cycles in small #farmer peasant and pastoralist communities, along with communities’ indigenous knowledge, provide a framework for the plans. The plans include: democratic governance of resources-land, water, forests, territories, biodiversity, seeds, breeds and knowledge; nurturing life in our soils and growing, consuming and sharing healthy diverse and culturally appropriate food agro-ecologically, asserting seed and animal breed sovereignty through saving and exchange of local seeds and breeds between food farmers; reciprocal systems of sharing labour, knowledge and produce; strengthening local food markets that connect producers and consumers, leading to the diversification and revival of food crops. The alliance enables members to share and exchange seeds across regions, particularly accessing seeds that have disappeared from their region, which they wish to revive. Social justice is central to the idea of food sovereignty, and hence breaking the unjust structures of caste, class and patriarchy are core elements of the movement.

"Intergenerational learning and sharing of knowledge between community elders and youth is an essential strategy. Youth learn from community elders, particularly women, accompanying them as they collect diverse tubers, herbs, fruits and seeds, learning about how to process and store produce, save seeds, establish community seed banks and learn to craft and use local agriculture implements.

"Celebrating the diversity of food, through local festivals, song, dance, theatre, community cooking and other cultural actions, linked to the life cycles and seasonal agricultural calendars, enhance our practice. Campaigns, jatras and food sovereignty summits, community action research on specific questions, sharing our experiences and concerns through mainstream media, popular and academic journals, are other critical strategies to nurture solidarity and collective actions for food sovereignty."

Read more:
https://www.leisaindia.org/seeds-of-resistance-for-food-sovereignty/

#SolarPunkSunday #SeedsOfResistance #FoodSovereignty #GenerationalKnowledge #KnowledgeSharing #TraditionalAgriculture #CollectiveAction #CollectiveLearning #SeedBanks #SeedSaving #BioDiversity #FoodIsLife #Agroecology

Seeds of resistance for food sovereignty – LEISA India

Seeds of resistance for food sovereignty

LEISA India