Support the Al Shawwa Family in Their Time of Need

Hello, my name is Elizabeth Barnes and I am a U.S. citizen. I am creating this fundraiser on behalf of my friends in Gaza, the Al-Shawwa family. They are a family of 8, including parents, adult children, and one preteen child. Please read their story.

What Happened:

"It wasn’t an ordinary day; it was the day our home turned into a nightmare. The Israeli army surrounded us inside our house, the place we considered a safe haven for ourselves and our children. Suddenly, they set it on fire, and everything we owned vanished in moments. Nothing was left but ashes. The flames consumed our food, our clothes, and our irreplaceable memories. The house that was once full of life is now an empty shell, unfit for living.

They destroyed our dreams, our future, and every hope we held onto. We no longer have a place to call home, nor a shelter for our children. We are now living in unbearable conditions in northern Gaza, where life is extremely difficult. Resources are scarce, and prices are skyrocketing. Even getting water and food has become a daily struggle.

We are in desperate need of your help. We want to rebuild our burnt dreams, to restore what was destroyed, and to regain some of the dignity and life that were stolen from us. We rely on your support to stand on our feet again. Without your donations, there is no hope for us to reclaim our lives.

Help us return to life, rebuild our dreams, and recover what was taken from us. Your donation is our only hope to live with dignity and humanity.

Every donation, no matter how small, will bring us one step closer to reclaiming our family home and rebuilding our lives. We are immensely grateful for your generosity and solidarity during this difficult time.

**How will we use the money?**

We plan to use at least $20,000 in donations to cover essential needs such as food, water, and basic supplies, along with travel and medical expenses. Additionally, part of the funds will go toward replacing clothing and coverings that were burned and destroyed in our home. We will also set aside some funds for any emergency costs that may arise.

In addition, three of the adult siblings in the household need to fund travel expenses if and when the Rafah border crossing reopens. The travel is not for evacuation, but for work and other commitments and will cost at least $15,000 USD to fund.