A Special COVID Appeal,
On Behalf of Palestinian Families
From our Seraj Board Chair:
The world is on fire with COVID 19. We can each feel the flames in our own homes & neighborhoods. Joyce & I have tried to offer some support locally: our immediate neighbor is on the front lines at RUSH hospital and we have honored Susie, as a block hero.
But how do we make a helpful contribution to the bigger, global, picture?
Now, the Seraj Library Project presents one answer. Seraj in Palestine has been approached by many "Seraj village" families with requests for help. Help with food, help with life's essentials. In response, Laurie and Estephan have asked the Seraj/U.S. board if we could provide them with $10,000 that they could use, through Seraj's community partners, to help alleviate some of this suffering.
In response, at yesterday's board meeting, members of the U.S. Board committed $5,000 of their own contributions for this purpose and resolved to send out an appeal for an additional $5,000. This newsletter is that appeal. Time is of the essence. And whatever we receive, we will send immediately.
This effort would be in addition to the on-going Seraj cultural library programs for children who are at home from school.
The United Nations Secretary-General said on 23 March 2020 “We must come to the aid of the ultra-vulnerable – millions upon millions of people who are least able to protect themselves. This is a matter of basic human solidarity. It is also crucial for combating the virus. This is the moment to step up for the vulnerable.” UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
I hope you will be able to make a donation to Seraj, designated to our COVID aid Fund, in the next few days. Click here to contribute. I invite you to join me in providing direct, immediate assistance to Palestinian families in need. Luckily, Seraj Library Project has on-going local relationships and connections which position us well for this effort. The aid will be channeled through our partner community organizations (each library was created as a partnership with a local, community based group).
As you may know, there are many groups whose primary mission is to provide direct financial support to Palestinians. If you want to do more, we are glad to suggest two possibilities:
American Friends Service Committee - a focus on senior citizens in Gaza www.afsc.org American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem. www.afedj.org
Both of these organizations are active in the West Bank and in Gaza, and both do wonderful work.
With much appreciation, on behalf of the US Seraj Board & the families and children of Seraj.
John Cassel, Seraj US Board Chair
John in Ramallah, November 2019 |