Hello to our kind and generous community members. We are Sireen Beseiso and Dalia Salloum. Sireen is a Palestinian-American mother and proud to be from Gaza. Sireen was evacuated from Gaza in January 2024 with her son, my mother, father , and sister. They were reunited with her other siblings in Salt Lake City. Dalia is an American born Palestinian from Ramallah in the West Bank. Obviously, we instantly became sisters and have been working together, laughing together, and crying together nonstop since the genocide began.

FAQs:

1. Who is this fundraiser benefitting?

Imagine the worst case scenario, your entire community where you grew up is completely destroyed and everyone you ever knew in your life is suffering in some way or another to survive. These are the people who are benifitting. Sireen and I both have friends and family members living in Gaza. We are helping people we know in real life. Not people we met on the internet. Our childhood friends and their families, our neighbors in the West Bank who have family in Gaza. Our aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. These are people we know and love.

2. Does donating even help?

Yes! We have direct connections to people there. Donating helps. It gets money into people's hands so they can buy what they need from the markets. The economy has not stopped despite complete death and destruction. The rents are still due, and the prices continue to rise. Donating will not end the violence, but it will help our loved ones get a little bit of food into their childrens' bellies.

3. How much should we donate?

As much as you can. Every single dollar makes a difference. We live in relative comfort and have everything we need here in the USA and in the West. So we encourage everyone to share their resources. This is a powerful act. This is a way to help people who are suffering at the hands of our tax dollars. It is a way to do what our leaders will not. It is very empowering and we can continue to help with your generosity.

4. How do you get money into Gaza?

As someone who has spent much of her life in Gaza, I have many ways of delivering money and supplies directly to families in need. I am currently working directly with my dear sister Dalia Salloum to deliver much of the funds raised in this campaign, carrying on from her work on the Hot Cocoa's for Gaza's Children Holiday Donation Drive - which raised over 15 thousand dollars! I am asking my fellow Americans to continue to help us get money to our families and friends in need. I'm asking y'all to have faith in me, as someone with with direct ties to the people there, to keep the flow of aid going.

5. If aid is trickling in, how much are groceries in Gaza right now?

As many know, prices are very high in Gaza. Please keep in mind that there has been no functioning society - this is uncharted territory for humanity. For example- 1kg of flour is $60, 1 kg of sugar $120, 1kg of pasta $30, 1 kg of lentils is $26, and 1 kg of rice is $45. Imagine! Fruit and vegetables are at a very high cost as well.

6. I refuse to support this type of economy! Why should I donate to a crumbling society where groceries are this high?

Because its easy!!! Because you can!! And because it gives our beautiful loved ones HOPE. It reminds them that they should continue to survive while we continue to pressure our governments for a solution. We cannot all be activists and freedom fighters, but we can all contribute a little bit of money.

Thank you so much for giving us hope in the power of community and the power of collective action. We love you!

Dalia and Sireen