The good people behind the Refaat Mobile Library—a traveling memorial library created in honor of Refaat Alareer, the beloved Palestinian poet and educator who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in December—are holding an emergency fundraiser for Gaza, and they could really use your support.
The volunteer-run mobile library has been traveling around Atlanta for over a month now, bringing Palestinian and activist literature to protest trainings, divestment teach-ins, college graduations, community markets, charity basketball games, festivals, galleries, and more.
Through Gaza Funds, a project that connects people to vetted crowdfunding campaigns for individuals and families from Gaza, the Refaat Mobile Library has also raised almost $10,000 for dozens of stagnant GoFundMe pages.
How does that work?
Well, every morning, 100 percent of all monies raised over the previous 24 hours are donated to a spotlighted campaign on the Gaza Funds homepage, breathing new life into dormant-but-vital fundraisers for Palestinians attempting to flee Gaza and access urgent medical care for their loved ones.
If you donate $10 or more to the fundraiser, and DM the group with a screenshot of your payment, they’ll send you a custom Refaat Mobile Library postcard and bookmark designed for the library by two wonderful Palestinian artists.
Tens of thousands of Palestinian families have suffered unimaginable trauma and loss these past eight months. For many, these fundraisers represent the only chance to escape the bombardment and starvation that has come to characterize daily life in Gaza. Please consider donating whatever you can.
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If you live in the Atlanta area and would like to volunteer with the Refaat Mobile Library, you can sign up here.
You can also book the Refaat Mobile Library to appear at your fundraiser, teach-in, or solidarity event.