Brighten the Future of Gaza's Children

Dear friends and supporters of Rebuilding Alliance,       

Greetings from Palestine! Donna and Kelly have been in the West Bank for the last month, moving things forward with the backpacks project. Our goal of reaching 3,888 backpacks by May is quickly approaching and we have now raised over $10,000 for the backpacks project (that’s more than 500 backpacks!). There is a strong network of support growing across the county, from San Francisco all the way to New Jersey and New York - thank you so much for being a part of it!

Today is a big day - another Microsoft Youthspark Matching grant has $5000 to give to the project with the largest number of unique donors. If we can reach 200 individual donations, we can get this big $5000 bonus prize for our project - that’s 250 backpacks for needy children in Gaza! If you can give $10, $20, or $100 again today, you can help us reach our goal of 3,888 backpacks by the end of May and build a brighter future for children in Gaza. Thank you!

During our time in the West Bank, we have been meeting with our trading consultants and the necessary contacts in the Palestinian Authority to make sure our container reaches the children in Gaza safely. Our team of consultants at Lausanne Trading have phenomenal experience getting goods in and out of Gaza, and even shared with us fresh mint, thyme, arugula, dill, and strawberries from the Gaza Strip. These delicious goods are being sold fresh overseas, even in groceries in New York! Your help to send backpack kits with new school supplies to children in need in Gaza will help continue to open the blockade and reconnect Gaza’s children and their families with the rest of the world.

On Thursday, April 9, we met with the Minister of Education, Professor Khawlah Shakhsheer, who is thrilled about this project. They are immensely thankful for American support and will help us identify the children who are most in need - those who will receive the wonderful backpack kits that you have helped provide. With approval from the Minister of Education, the Minister of Finance will provode us a donation number from the Palestinian Authority so that the container can get customs clearance and through Israeli COGAT security checks. We are well on our way to ensuring the safe arrival of these backpacks in time for school to resume in August, and we couldn't be doing it without your support.

On the other side of the world, our dedicated team members in California, New Jersey, and New York are undertaking remarkable fundraising efforts to help us reach our goal. To help prepare for the big Microsoft Youthspark Matching Grant event on Global Giving on April 14, these teams are holding fundraisers, movie nights, bake sales, and more, to raise money for the project! Our first container will be sent from the Palestinian American Community Center in New Jersey, where 5 schools and 3 universities have joined the campaign to send nearly 4,000 backpacks to children in need in Gaza. We want to give a big shout out to everyone involved in this amazing project, and thank you for your continued support!

Want to stay involved? Contact us about hosting the next shipping container in your community, or consider hosting a fundraiser event and donating the amount raised to the project. You can also give today to help us raise a bonus $5000 from Microsoft for having the highest number of unique donors. Thank you for your support of this project and please consider asking your friends and family to donate to help us reach our goal of 3,888 backpacks by the end of May. 

With sincere thanks,

The Rebuilding Alliance Team

Links:

• Donate now on Global Giving!