We are Nicole McInnis and Lauren Caudill, two mothers from two different countries (Canada and the US) coming together to fundraise on behalf of a beautiful family enduring daily challenges in Gaza. Thank you for seeing the fullness of this family’s experience and for considering donating. Your donation will go far to restore the dignity and hope this family so deeply deserves.

Here is a little more about the Bdeir family, in their words:

My name is Nedal (an Arabic name that means “struggle” or “effort”). My wife’s name is Najwa (meaning “a heartfelt whisper” or “secret prayer”), and we have two little girls — Rital (4 years old; her name means “recitation of something beautiful”) and Tala (2 years old; her name means both “a little palm tree” in Arabic and also “the brightness of the moon” in Greek). We live in Gaza, which has been suffering the devastation of war for the past two years.

I used to work as an elevator technician and, after many years of hard work, I managed to build a small business of my own. My dream was simple — to give my family a stable and dignified life. But when the war began, everything collapsed overnight.

Our home was bombed, and under heavy shelling we were forced to flee and live in tents. We lost our house, my job, and all of our life’s savings. Today, my family and I are struggling with no safe shelter and no source of income.

Rital loves the sea and playing in the sand. Tala, our little palm tree and moonlight, lights up even our darkest days with her laughter — she loves braiding hair and bouncing on the trampoline. But now, their safety and their childhood are in danger.

I am reaching out to your kind hearts — please help me provide for my family during this hardship. With the rising costs of basic needs like shelter, food, and essentials for the children, even the smallest support can restore a sense of safety and dignity for us.

I will be forever grateful for any contribution, or even simply sharing our story.

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Funds raised for the Bdeir family will go toward basic living expenses and food. Lauren takes full responsibility for the transfer of funds into the family’s personal bank account.