Kelly's Going Back to Greece

Hello, friends.
As most of you know, I went to Greece in June, 2016, to volunteer in one of the Syrian refugee camps. It was a life-changing experience. These children feel like my children, the adults feel like my friends and family. As I have said over and over and over, they are us. They have faced unimaginable dangers in their Syrian homes and en route to what they hoped would be a safer future for themselves and their families. For a host of essentially unacceptable reasons, thousands of these refugee men, women, and children are still living in tents in makeshift camps. 

I am going back to Greece in November, again as a volunteer physician working in the camp medical clinics through the Syrian American Medical Society, or SAMS. I am devastated that they are still there, but I am delighted to be able to go back. To see my friends, and to hear the chorus of "my friend, my friend!" shouted out in dozens of little voices.

I didn't plan on asking for donations this trip. So many of you were so exceedingly generous with your donations during my last trip, it felt like too much to ask again. However, many of you have asked me to fundraise again. Not everyone has the needed skills or the opportunity to go and help in person - as I know so many of you would like to - and fundraising is a valued contribution.

So here we are. I will gladly accept your generous donations to help my Syrian friends. If I see needs that I can fill with these donated funds while I'm there (medications, medical supplies, school supplies, contributions toward fresh produce, etc), I will use the money for that. Whatever is left, I will split between medical (SAMS) and nonmedical humanitarian aid (again, organizations working toward education, clothing, etc - Swisscross, SCM, for example). Again, none of your donated money will be used for my travel expenses. I am funding these myself.

I will post updates as I did last time. Please feel free to share.

I will also be sharing photos, including the one heading this campaign, by my friend Abdulaziz Dukhan, a talented photographer who also happens to be a Syrian refugee.

Thank you in advance for your kindness and generosity.

Much love,
Kelly

edited to add (at the request of gofundme, who apparently thinks the above isn't clear enough, and to be fair is trying to protect donors from the crazy folks who "fundraise" for their own pockets.
1. Who am I? My name is Kelly Griffin. I am a critical care physician in New York.
2. My relationship to the parties for whom I'm fundraising: Well, I am fundraising for Syrian refugees living in camps in Greece, and also for Syrians still stuck in Syria. I am volunteering with the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) in their medical clinics in Greek camps. My relationship to these people? I've volunteered with SAMS in the past and will continue fighting for the health and well-being of refugees for as long as there is a need.
3. How will the funds be spent? They'll be spent on medical supplies, school supplies and however the NGOs working there (SAMS, Salaam Cultural Mission, Swisscross) see fit. 
4. How will funds be withdrawn and distributed? If there are medical or educational items needed that I can purchase once I arrive in Greece with the donated funds, I will do so. I anticipate the bulk of donated money will be withdrawn and donated among a few select charities working in the camps long-term (the same ones listed above).