BEIT EL BARAKA USA

Here I am. A chubby baby on a beach. My name is Alex Tyminski, last name is Polish and Italian, but I am 100% Lebanese. My story is unique. I was adopted from an orphanage right in the heart of Beirut, Lebanon. My birth-mom was a teenager when she had me, displaced from her home around the time of the second major civil war in Lebanon and homeless before she was taken in by the orphanage. Growing up, I've always been so grateful for my current family. And knowing that my birth-mom had a place to have care and feel safe during a time that must have been so scary is very comforting, often giving me a feeling of peace that words could never say. Having family from Lebanon, and meeting other Arabs, all I've ever known from them is immense compassion, kindness and love. Lebanese people are strong, vivacious, fun, and extremely community oriented.

Thinking about children being away or without any family is very heavy for me and I don't know what to do except find a direct way to help. The family that adopted me is MY family. They raised me, love me, and have taught me strong values of giving back to others in need. I love my parents with my whole heart. Everyday I grapple with the acceptance of 'being lucky' under my circumstances, but I also recognize that the resources and voice I was given is a true blessing. A blessing to be able to speak out for those in need.

I am raising money for my country, for my birthplace, for the children who need to know they are loved, and for the families looking to have just any comfort or help so they too can have sense of security, like you and I.

The August 2020 explosion that rocked Beirut devasted, displaced and destroyed thousands of lives. As many as 500'000 people STILL need immediate assistance for things as basic as clothing, food and shelter. Your donation is urgently needed to help those suffering begin rebuilding their lives. Can you join me in making a difference? I'm raising money to benefit Beit El Baraka, an international non-profit organization that assists those affected by the blast in Beirut by providing them with food, housing and medical support. Any donation you provide will make a difference. 

Let me tell you a little about Beit El Baraka. Their mission is to help restore a sense of dignity to Lebanese families that have been deprived of their most basic needs and rights. For example, Beit El Baraka provides access to health care and assists a large number of Lebanese families who have been displaced, families who are in financial distress, children who are out of school, and retirees suffering from seclusion. Here is what your one-time donation could do:

·     $10 could cover a baby’s milk and diaper needs for a week. 

·     $50 could feed a family of four and provide it with hygiene products for a week. 

·     $300 could pay for a child’s school tuition for a year. 

·     $1,000 could rehabilitate a small business that was destroyed by the blast and help people return to work.

In the words of Beit El Baraka Founder, Maya Ibrahimchah: "Our major achievement remains our ability to keep our overhead at 2% of the total budget, proving how keen we are on optimizing every penny spent. That being said, our need to generate funds remains crucial to cater for the increasing number of families getting evicted from their homes and losing everything they had. The poverty crisis is rapidly turning into a humanitarian one, and we cannot overcome it without your help."

Thank you in advance for your contribution to this most worthy cause, which means so much to me but can mean the world to those devastated by the tragic Beirut blast. 

More information about BEIT EL BARAKA USA: Beit El Baraka is an NGO based in Lebanon with a partnership with Beit El Baraka USA, a registered 501(c)(3) organization (registration number 85-0879465). BEB's mission is to ensure a sense of dignity and assistance for people in need in Lebanon, especially after Beirut's massive explosion. All donations are tax-deductible.

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Website: https://www.beitelbaraka.org

For more on the work of Beit El Baraka

Lebanon is currently facing a devastating financial and economic collapse. There is no fuel, wifi, electricity, bread, milk or medication. There are four million people at risk!

My name is Dania Sinno Kibbi, and like many Lebanese expats, I feel helpless watching my country and people drown in despair in what the World Bank has called “one of the top 3, most severe crises episodes globally since the mid-nineteenth century."

In the past year since the Beirut blast that killed hundreds and injured thousands, the deterioration of the situation has progressed at a horrifying pace. During my recent visit, I witnessed my country plunge into total darkness as fuel supplies ran dry and power companies gave up and closed their doors. Unable to operate, hospitals are closing by the day in the midst of a global pandemic. Medications are scarce and pharmacies have nothing left to dispense as the sick and elderly are suffering in pain and living in fear for how they will survive.

40% of the GDP has been cut, inflation is at an alarming 88% and the worst is to come. People no longer have access to their money in the banks and parents can no longer afford food for their children. The situation in Lebanon is dire: my fellow citizens are dying, suffering or fleeing to better opportunities abroad.

Please help me help Lebanon by making a donation to Beit el Baraka, a trusted and well established NGO that is making a big difference on the ground by providing food, medicine and shelter to 226,000+ people.

I am seeking your support to help feed, treat and house those impacted by this terrible tragedy.

$100 feeds a family of four for one month.

$70 shelters a family with rent for one month.

$30 treats a family with basic medical needs for a month.

$25 lights up a family’s home with generator electricity for one month.

My goal is to raise funds for a 100 families. Please help me make this happen. Any donation you make, no matter the size, will have an immediate impact. Your generosity means the world to me and to the people of Lebanon. THANK YOU!

Beit El Baraka is an NGO based in Lebanon and has a partnership with Beit El Baraka USA, a registered 501(c)3 organization. All donations are tax deductible.

Display illustration by Tony Maalouf