Chefs for Lebanon

On August 4th, Beirut was hit with what turns out to be the 3rd most devastating explosion worldwide - destroying most of their beautiful city, leaving many dead, thousands injured and an unfathomable 300,000 people without homes. 
Amongst shelter and medical supplies, the largest need right now for the people of Beirut is food. 
We have connected with well known Lebanese chefs: Youssef Akiki, Tina Wazirian, Pierre Abi Hayla and restaurant entrepreneur Mansour Bleik who are on the ground in Beirut orchestrating and preparing meals for families displaced by this horrific tragedy.  Meals are prepared using local ingredients and recipes/meals that make the most of the funds we raise with hearty, warm comfort meals that are very filling, sustaining and nutrient dense. 
The US dollar is very valuable in Lebanon right now that even a $10 donation will be enough for ten meals for people in serious need. We are looking to raise a lofty $10,000 to support this effort as it is evident this is not a crisis that will be resolved in Beirut overnight. 

WHO ARE WE?
We are a team of chefs: Kristin O'Connor and Tara Khattar in the US banding together to raise funds to support chefs in Lebanon who are on the ground in Beirut set up to feed people who have been displaced from their homes and cannot get food. 

WHERE WILL THE MONEY GO?
Funds raised will go to restaurant entrepreneur Mansour Bleik who is in charge of distributing to Youssef and Tina as well as assisting in ingredient sourcing and distribution. Mansour has had a dynamic twenty year career across hospitality food and entertainment. Currently, Mansour has combined his comprehensive international experience into the uniquely enthusiastic and engaged method that is Beirut-based BLD

100% of Funds raised will go directly to Mansour Bleik in Lebanon, who will directly distribute to Youssef to purchase ingredients to prepare meals at their restaurant outside the destruction area for victims of the explosion. The chefs in Lebanon will not be taking any of the money for themselves, rather using use all of it to purchase ingredients for meal preparation for as many people as their facility can feed. 

CAMPAIGN INITIATORS?
Kristin O'Connor & Tara Khattar
For those who don't know me, my name is Kristin, I am  American
and made friends with an amazing group of people who happened to be from Lebanon, who welcomed me into their homes and lives as if I was family - when I left Beirut a year ago, I felt that a piece of my heart would always belong there. The Lebanese are a resilient, passionate, kind, optimistic people who will literally give the shirt off their back for a stranger in need, the least I can do is try to reciprocate such generosity and create a way to give back to them during an unimaginable crisis. 
I am Tara, I live in Texas, but I am Lebanese - have immediate family still living in Beirut along with a great deal of friends who have all been impacted by this tragedy - from friends who have passed to family who's homes have been destroyed. From afar, I need to help and that is what I am here to do. As a chef I want to help feed my people, make sure that as many bellies are full as possible during a time when their basic human needs have been completely stripped away.

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for any contribution you can make!