Summer 2023 Pitch in for Palestinian Children

This is a special campaign for the Palestinian House of Friendship to be able to deliver LOVE BOXES to families of kids attending the Smiling Faces summer camps.  

We are desperately concerned about the Israel Defense Force’s attack on the Jenin refugee camp. The death of civilians and the destruction in the camp was devastating, as the whole world observed Israel’s intentional effort to kill people and destroy the infrastructure of this impoverished community, including its electricity, water, homes and streets.

PHF is making a major effort to help children and their families feel safe, in spite of the daily trauma they are experiencing. Three Smiling Faces camps are open this summer (two in Nablus, and one in Asira), although not all the children attend every day. Parents are afraid the camps may be targets for the IDF. They also fear they won’t be able to pick up their kids at the end of the camp day, and many call in every morning to find out whether or not the camps will be operating. The PHF staff and volunteers try to reassure parents, and encourage them to bring their children to camp because the activities – art, singing, dance, swimming, games, play – help relieve the stress children are experiencing. These activities also help relieve stress for the staff and volunteers who are living with the same threats and anxieties as the children.

From July 15 to August 15, we are raising funds for this Boxes of Love campaign, a one-month initiative to provide food, clothing, books, and toys to families living in nearby refugee camps whose children are attending one of the Smiling Faces camps.  In these very dark times, PHF creates "candles of hope" for its community.  PHF Director Mohammed continues to believe that it is vitally important to find happiness in family, friendship, and love of country. "Life will go on," he says.