Deliver Fruit and Veggies to PKU Children, Twice a Month

Tenth round completed! Food parcels for 193 patients

Farah & 192 PKU patients received parcel on Jun 30

Thanks for your continued support. On June 30, our team successfully completed the 10th distribution of specialized PKU food parcels for families across Gaza. 193 families received food parcels: 52 families in Gaza, 35 in Deir Al-Balah, and 106 in Khan Younis.

This distribution was filled with heartfelt moments. Families shared how grateful they are that Rebuilding Alliance continues to stand beside them despite the ongoing challenges. Many told our photographers they eagerly wait for the phone call letting them know their parcel is ready, and that these regular distributions give them hope and reassurance. They asked us to extend their sincere thanks to every donor and supporter who has made this possible, expressing how much it means that they have not been forgotten.

The impact of this assistance extends far beyond the food itself. Parents repeatedly shared how these parcels have become a vital source of relief, helping them provide suitable meals for their children while easing some of the overwhelming financial burden they face. 

• Ten-year-old  Farah is one of the beneficiaries. Farah’s mother expressed sincere gratitude for the food parcel she received: “It helps us a lot in managing her diet, even if it’s not enough.” Her mother shared that the family struggles to provide her with safe nutrition, including medical food. While medical food is available in the West Bank, access is extremely difficult. Delivery alone costs around 220 shekels, in addition to the price of the medical food itself, and the closure of the crossing has made delivery even more complicated. 
• Bashir’s mother expressed heartfelt gratitude for the continued support: “We are thankful for the vegetable parcel. It makes a real difference.” The fresh vegetables allow Bashir’s family to prepare meals that fit his strict low-protein diet. His mother shared that Bashir’s condition becomes more stable with this diet—a blessing she does not take for granted.
• Tasneem is 5 years old, and her little sister, Touline, is 3. Speaking about the parcel, their father shared: “It truly helps. Having healthy vegetables that are suitable for my daughters’ diet makes a real difference, even if only for a short time.” He hopes for continued support so his daughters can access the food they need and grow up with the care, dignity, and inclusion every child deserves. He also shared that Tasneem was refused admission to kindergarten because of her condition, which has left the family heartbroken. 
• Nine-year-old Islam also received a parcel. Her mother said, “We truly appreciate the vegetable parcel. It helps us a lot during these difficult times.” The specialised vegetables included have allowed them to maintain the strict diet that Islam requires. 
• Ali is 13 years old, and his younger sister, Alia, is just 2. Their mother received a parcel from our team and expressed deep gratitude to the donors who contributed to it, explaining how important it is for her children’s health: “The vegetables are suitable for my children.” She shared that Alia is still unable to speak and often experiences episodes of irritability. 

Although we did not have sufficient funds, we proceeded with this delivery because PKU patients must have continuous access to a low-protein diet. Their health depends on these specialized foods. Our team purchased the food parcels on credit, and we now need your help to cover the cost so we can continue providing this lifesaving support. 

With your help, we can continue providing safe, healthy food parcels to all 193 PKU patients in Gaza, ensuring they receive the nutrition and care they need.

Thanks for all that you do. 

Each parcel has 2 weeks supplies

Bashir’s condition stabilizes with fresh veggies

Tasneem(5) & Touline(3) dad receiving a parcel

Parcel helps Islam (9) follow a low-protein diet

Islam with her parcel

Ali and Alia’s mother receiving a parcel

Hala (20), Jana (18), & Omar (16)’s dad

For 2 weeks PKU children can have safe nutrition

Thanks for your continued support

By Maria Syed | Director of Development and Strategy

190 PKU patients receive food parcels

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we completed the ninth round of food parcel distribution in Gaza. 

On March 25, our team launched the ninth phase of PKU food parcel distribution, supporting 190 patients across Gaza with essential nutrition—52 parcels in Gaza City, 37 in Deir Al-Balah, and 101 in Khan Younis.

• Each parcel cost $120 and included 2 kilograms each of apples, oranges, pomegranates, pears, clementines, tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers, cauliflower, onions, pumpkin, lemons, and many more items. Olive oil was also included.
• These parcels make sure children living with Phenylketonuria get the nutrition they need and protect them from serious harm and permanent brain damage. 

For families living with PKU, this support feels like a miracle. Parents expressed their gratitude, saying these regular checkins mean so much—not only for the food, but also for the reassurance that their children are remembered.

Two PKU parents spoke to our team members in detail about the importance of receiving low-protein food parcels regularly. 

• Three-year-old Ameer, who has PKU, received a parcel from our team. His father is deeply concerned about Ameer’s health. 

“I have lost access to healthcare for my son. There are no doctors, no checkups, no blood monitoring. We are living in the unknown—we don’t know where this is going. With the lack of formula and limited resources, my son is suffering. I just pray that God protects him.”

Vegetables sometimes appear in the market, but their high prices make them out of reach. Ameer needs a strict lowprotein diet, yet the alternatives are missing. “Corn bread is not available, so he is forced to eat regular wheat bread, even though it contains high protein and is not suitable for him,” his father explained.

Ameer’s behavior has changed. “He has become very hyperactive and stubborn, not like other children.”

His father expressed gratitude. “We are truly thankful to all the supporters and Rebuilding Alliance for their continuous support and for always checking on us. We hope this support continues.”

• Tulin and Tasneem, two young girls with PKU, also received a parcel. Their mother was deeply grateful for the food support. Nutrition has become one of the family’s greatest challenges. Vegetables are sometimes available in the market, but their high cost makes them unaffordable.

Their mother explained: “Healthy food is simply too expensive for us. Their father has no work, and we can’t afford it. Most of our food comes from the community kitchen, and it’s not healthy for them. There is no suitable flour for them. They eat regular bread, even though it affects them badly.”

She notices the impact on her daughters—one becomes more irritable after eating it. “When we managed to get the medical formula, I noticed some improvement, but it’s still not enough.”

She also described how their health has been affected: “Tulin has been delayed in walking, and Tasneem struggles to focus. I tried to enroll her in kindergarten, but they refused to accept her.”

With little to no income, parents rely on your generosity to feed their children. Your generosity makes this vital work possible. PKU patients require regular deliveries—not onetime aid. With your support, we can ensure these lifesaving parcels continue reaching the children who depend on them every single day. 

Thank you for all that you do.

Parcels contained 2 weeks supplies

Nutrition that keeps PKU patients safe and healthy

Tulin and Tasneem’s family

Ameer’s dad receiving a parcel

Links:

• See video interviews of PKU families