Apologies for not sending a newsletter last week; I’ve been recovering from illness.
In the 2 weeks since I was last able to publish the holy month of Ramadan began and Israel ceased the entry of any aid to Gaza. During Ramadan, Muslims fast in the daylight hours, eating once before dawn, and having a large meal in the evening to break their fast. Choosing to starve an entire people who are now sick, injured, without homes, grieving lost family, and having endured the horrors of over 500 days of a genocide, during their holy month of fasting is beyond evil.
There is a future that I often think of, in which we will have new language to describe the deeply heinous and vile actions of the Israeli Occupation and the American support of this genocide. I’ve been lacking in adequate language for well over a year.
Urgent needs:
Reem’s nieces and nephews desperately need help.
Hanin has 4 daughters under the age of 6, and lost her husband in the fall.
Kayan is raising her 3 children alone now, the youngest of which is just a year old.
Raffles and online fundraisers:
Raffle for Hala — Each Winner will choose designs from the Direct-Aid shop on redbubble.com to be printed on the items in the package of their choice.
3 winners! - 1 ticket = $10; 3 tickets = $20 (world-wide shipping!)
Send $ to Paypal @MadiMordaunt with note, ‘For Hala’s Raffle’ or donate to Hala’s campaign $10 = 100Kroner
Send receipt to @beef.cheeps (or to me, and I will forward)
Winners will be chosen on April 13th.
Package One = Lightweight sweatshirt sm-3xl + small sticker
Package Two = dad hat + spiral notebook lined or graph
Package Three = t-shirt sm-3xl + mug
Rebuilding Hope — a mutual aid effort for @zeyadsakallah in collaboration with @creatorsforgaza and 6 creators! We are fundraising to support Zeyad, his twin brother Eyad, and their family.
Tickets are $10 each. Every multiple of $10 counts as an additional ticket! Each ticket grants you an entry for the gift of your choice!
Make your $10+ donation directly to Zeyad’s gfm, then send a screenshot of your receipt to (hello@serpent-and-bow.com). Specify which gift(s) you wish to enter for with your ticket(s)!
Winners will be announced on 3/18
Storytime Raffle — Being offered are 4 crocheted stuffed animals! Each one has been paired with a unique children’s book recommended by friends and community members. My hope is that these will bring some comfort to a little one in your life as we make sure the Madi family remains cared for during Ramadan this year.
HOW TO ENTER: 1 Entry - $10 — 3 Entries - $25 — 5 Entries - $40
Send via Venmo: [at]HypnoBee // Cashapp: $HypnoBee (Include your IG handle or email address and the number of entries for each bundle you are entering for: “b_dillenbeck 3xC”)
Bundle A — “A Different Pond” by Bao Phi and a crocheted turtle
Bundle B — “Remembering” by Xelena Gonzalez and a crocheted dog
Bundle C — “Little Seeds of Promise” by Sana Rafi and crocheted potted plants
Bundle D — “My Papi has a Motercycle” by Isabel Quintero and a crocheted dog
Winners will be drawn on March 21st!
Quilt — [at]seednewworlds is making their first quilt and it could be yours!
Every $10 (US dollars) donated to their go fund me campaign will earn 1 raffle ticket. I can ship the quilt world wide. The winner will be drawn on April 15 at 9pm EST.
Pet Portraits — custom digital pet portraits (2 inch square , black and white portrait with your choice of color background, in a jpg and a png) that you can use for Instagram, get it turned into a stamp, print it on a shirt, make them their own business cards, print it out and put it in your wallet... you get the idea.
Due to my current work schedule, I need to limit these to 10 portraits. If you would like a portrait DM me to secure your spot. Once I have confirmed your spot, make your donation. Then shoot me a screenshot of your donation to Reaaf's Go Fund Me. to me along with a clear photo of your pet and the email you want me to send the portrait to and you will receive your portrait in one week.
These will be $15 each.
PDX in-person fundraisers:
Mayor — Join us for the next installment of our film series, featuring Mayor (2020)—an 89-minute real-life political saga and black comedy. The film follows Musa Hadid, the Christian mayor of Ramallah, as he navigates the daily absurdities of occupation while working to improve his city. With humor and resilience, he balances repaving sidewalks, planning Christmas celebrations, and striving for a liberated Palestine.
When: Friday March 14th doors at 6:30 PM Film starts: 7:00 PM
Where: Albina Press (5012 SE Hawthorne Blvd)
Raffle & merch – all proceeds support families in Gaza
Enjoy delicious treats & drinks (Babka, Greek Amygdalotas, Orange Cake, Hibiscus Tea & more) – 100% of sales donated!This is an event I’m co-hosting with an amazing friend and comrade.
Grape Leaves — Bring your joy, your anger, your grief as we roll grape leaves together. An afternoon dedicated to building community and learning more about Palestinian culture.
Tickets available here. Sliding scale $15-$45, space is limited!
When: March 15th
Where: SwanaRose 2942 NE MLK Blvd
Vegan/GF friendly 🩷
MASKS REQUIRED
Resistance Fair — Connect with your neighbors, learn about local resistance efforts, and celebrate spring! There will be food, music, and activities for all ages, including crafts, drag storytime, mending, art, shirts, baked goods, and a scavenger hunt with prizes.
Sunday, March 16 | 1-5pm | Alder Commons, 4212 NE Prescott St, PDX
You can find me tabling here raising money for one of my friends in Gaza!
Masks required
Arab American Heritage Culture Night — in honor of this year's Arab American Heritage Month, AACCO and the PSU Menasa Student Center are cohosting an cultural night celebration!
Please join us on April 19 at the PSU Native American Student and Community Center for an evening of culture, cuisine and community.
Tickets are $25 and can be purchased here. Proceeds will benefit humanitarian aid in Gaza and Lebanon. We hope you will join us.
Highlighted Merch:
The amazing Miuki has received a handful of suggestions to sell their stitched shirts instead of doing raffles—this way, every contributor gets what they want. So are now taking custom orders for t-shirts and sweatshirts with four design variations.
Send a DM to [at]sleepyjapanesey (or, send to me and I will forward) of the screenshot of your donation to one of the families in this linktree. Along with the following preferences:
Design and thread color(s)
t-shirt ($35+) or sweatshirt ($45+)
Size
Shirt color (Black, maroon, forest green, grey)
Delivery within U.S. only.