I don’t think any of us thought that we would still be in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic with July 4th right around the corner. When it started, when we first heard of it back in February and people were beginning to ask questions about how serious it would be, everyone thought it would only be a couple of months before we could get back to normal. But it keeps going on and it is getting worse and the virus is spreading into more areas of the refugee communities. And now citizens from the US being banned from travelling to Europe, and states are banning people from other states from coming to visit. The world is changing daily.

SCM is trying to keep up with the demands of the refugee communities that we support, but it is getting harder and harder on a daily basis. We have applied for funding and grants, but we have only gotten one so far from 4 Cultures, but still have not received the funds for 5K. We are relying completely on your support to keep going.

So far this month with your help we have been able to accomplish the following:

• Load a 40 ft shipping container and send it off to Jordan. It was completely packed full of supplies for the refugees there and it will take about 45 to 60 days to arrive at our warehouse in Madaba. Thanks also to the help of Jordan Hashemite Charities, the container will be allowed into Jordan at the Aqaba port when it arrives. We have been working with the Jordan Hashemite Charities for many years now and they know us and the work we do to help the refugees there.
• We joined forces with Dunya Productions here is Seattle to “host” a virtual play called “Stories from Palestinian”. We were able to raise $5,000 which was then wired into GAZA for medical and humanitarian assistance. We also have an ongoing food drive for Dunya to help feed Palestinian families in need.
• Through our many contacts we were able to get $4,000 into Aleppo for food assistance and then another $4,000 to the people in Idlib for food and medical assistance.
• For our two young men that are stuck in Serbia waiting for their paperwork to come through for Canada we were able to get them $2,000 for living expenses
• We helped two young refugee men here in Seattle that arrived less than a year ago to get driver licenses.
  A car was donated to SCM and given to a Syrian family here to help them with their transportation needs for work, shopping, doctors appointments, etc. They no longer need to rely on public transportation or ask others for a ride somewhere.
• We worked with a number of people to get food supplies to the needy families from farmers in eastern Washington. We got potatoes, onions and apples and these were given out to the Syrian, Afghani and Iraqi families in the Puget Sound area. I believe we had over 2500 pounds. We also got watermelons from JD Market and those were distributed to different families.
• We have helped one Syrian family that wants to grow their own vegetable garden. We were able to purchase $570 worth of veggie and herb plants for them to grown on a piece of land near a Mosque on the east side.

We want to thank all our supporters for helping make this a great month that we were able to help all these people. A total of $33,564.90 was spent by SCM for these projects including rent and utility assistance to the refugees here.

Thank you!

~Rita

DIRECT RELIEF TO FAMILIES IN GAZA, EAST JERUSALEM AND THE WEST BANK

SCM, along with Dunya Productions and Donkeysaddle Projects, is working with organizers on the ground in Gaza, Jerusalem and the West Bank to distribute packages of food and necessities to families in dire need, including families of those in quarantine in Gaza during the pandemic. 100% of funds donated to this small-scale volunteer project will directly go towards these vital provisions.

If you would like to donate to this program, click the donate button below.

SCM has been on a mission for 8 years now to make sure that Syria’s displaced children, their mothers, and other vulnerable populations  feel a strong sense of hope, relief, and stability through the incredible work and outreach of SCM and its volunteers. SCM Medical Missions grew from a small grassroots operation, organizing rapid response medical missions in Jordan and Greece, then we started working full time in Jordan to distribute goods to the displaced population of Syrians in camps. To fulfill that need, we have been sending out roughly 6 or more 40 ft containers per year.

Our distributions and volunteers in Jordan are run by our regional manager Basel Sawalha and Rebecca Malikian.  They are in charge of distribution and Rebecca’s young group of Jordanian and Palestinian students and professionals go out every week to different areas across Jordan to find the Syrian and the needy to distribute all the items that you so generously donate to us.

The container program costs about $5000 per container. But with your help so far we have been able to keep it going. We have a great driver that has given us a discounted rate on shipping, but once we get that we have the unloading and re-loading once it gets to the port of Aqaba and the workers need to be paid that help with this. It is very easy for each of you to help with this. You can make a monthly pledge of any amount towards the shipping. We can then concentrate on  filling the containers with all the items that are needed and getting the containers out and on their way to Jordan.

Together, with your help of a donation of $25, $50, $100 or more we can keep spreading the love and compassion we have for these people.

Thank you for all you are doing!

~Rita

These photos are from a distribution at the Suf refugee camp for Syrians and Palestinians.

Anera is hosting an interfaith Iftar and fundraiser in Seattle on Wednesday, May 30th at Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral Skinner Auditorium in the Saint Nicholas Building. The event will feature Teen Vogue’s chef Abeer Naijar, who will be giving a cooking demonstration. While Ramadan and Iftar being the theme of the dinner, we invite and encourage communities of all faiths to attend in solidarity with refugees. All proceeds will go to sending food and relief to families in Palestine and Lebanon. This is vital to supporting those affected by the critical situation in Gaza.

More information is available on the Facebook event page: ANERA Iftar & Fundraiser Event

Come and enjoy a delicious dinner buffet of Middle Eastern food while supporting our friends in #Gaza and #Lebanon. We are featuring a young Palestinian-American chef, Abeer Najjer, who has been highlighted in Teen Vogue and was Lifetime Magazine’s selection to represent Illinois in HER AMERICA: 50 WOMEN, 50 STATES.

Abeer will talk about her experience as an immigrant, her passion for food, and Ramadan traditions. We’ll also get to enjoy one of her decadent desserts. Space is limited, please get your tickets today.
** Several vegetarian and non-vegetarian items available**

Proceeds from ticket sales will go to sending one month’s supply of food to families in Gaza & Lebanon.

This event is sponsored by Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, Arab Alliance Chamber of Com of Wa St, Voices For Palestine, Middle East Focus Group, and the Salaam Cultural Center.

All are welcome!

SCM is having a clothing and soft goods drive to benefit SCM’s programs. We are partnering with another organization to turn your donated clothing (including accessories like handbags, duffel bags, scarves, ties, hats, mittens and gloves, etc) bedding, towels, curtains, tablecloths, shoes (all kinds), socks, etc, into cash that we can use to support our programs.

Please bring your items in plastic garbage bags to our office at 3806 Whitman Ave. N, Seattle, WA 98103 before February 26th. No moldy or mildewy items, please!

If you have a large amount of items, please call us (206-545-7307) before bringing them by the office so we can have the space ready and people to help unload your vehicle.

If you live in another city and would like to help, call us. We can have the organization we are working with contact you to organize your own local drive – it’s easy!

Thank you!