Hi! I’m Eris, a social worker from Portland, Oregon. I am creating this campaign on behalf of my friend Ahmed, whose young family is currently sheltering in Gaza City, Palestine. Things are escalating quickly where he is and he needs our help.

I met Ahmed through a mutual friend and we quickly became virtual pen pals. He sends me frequent photos and videos of his baby daughter which both make my day and break my heart. Food and diapers are scarce, and when available, extremely expensive. It’s difficult to provide these basics for her, let alone toys and other things every child should have.

There are explosions in their neighborhood every day, and I fear for their safety. They could be ordered to evacuate, or be forced to flee, at any moment. I want nothing more than for Ahmed and his family to enjoy a safe and happy life together. Donations will be wire transferred directly to Ahmed and go toward essential items for his family's continued survival.

Here is Ahmed’s story in his own words. Thank you for reading.

“Hello, my name is Ahmed Abu Tawela. I am a 28-year-old independent motion graphic designer from Gaza.

My family is living through tragic circumstances due to the war that destroyed my home and workplace. Since the first day of the war, we have been displaced because we lived in a border area. My family faces immense humanitarian challenges while constantly searching for safe shelter.

I married my wife Laila on August 26, 2023. After years of hard work, I completed building our home, which was a lifelong dream. However, we only enjoyed it for 40 days before the war turned our house into rubble.

On June 1, 2024, our daughter “Haya” was born under extremely harsh conditions, without hospitals or a stable shelter. We are currently living in a temporary shelter far from the rest of my family, who were in the south, while the three of us are in northern Gaza. Since the beginning of the war, I have been separated from my family and had not seen them for nearly a year and a half until the 2025 ceasefire, which increased the pain of loss and separation.

We have endured the first famine, and now we are going through a second one. The hunger has become so severe that sometimes we have had to eat food unfit even for animals, just to survive. This ongoing famine drains our strength and hope every day, making the fight for survival unbearable.

The situation worsened with skyrocketing prices; milk and diapers became out of reach, especially after I lost all income along with my job due to the complete destruction of the company I worked for. I have tried many times to find freelance remote work to support my family, but unfortunately, I have not succeeded in securing any projects so far due to the difficult circumstances Gaza is facing.

Your donation will provide milk and diapers for our daughter Haya, secure food and safe shelter for us, and help rebuild a decent life for those who have lost everything.

In the attached pictures, you will see our home before and after the destruction, bearing witness to the scale of the loss we are enduring.

Help us create a new beginning for our family.

Your donation and sharing of this campaign can give us hope and make a real difference in our lives. Thank you.”

To view Ahmed’s work and follow his talent in design:

Ahmed's Portfolio

And to follow him on Instagram:

Ahmed's Instagram