Even something as simple as a home-cooked meal has become a luxury, a rarity, in Gaza. Families miss traditional Palestinian dishes like maftoul, meals that carry memories of family gatherings, celebrations, and normal life. But cooking is no longer simple. Ingredients are scarce and expensive. Many families have no pots or kitchen supplies. Firewood costs more than they can afford. Mothers are forced to cook over open flames beside fabric tents, risking fires just to feed their children. There is so much that goes into preparing a meal that many of us never think about. After more than two and a half years of genocide, displacement, hunger, and deprivation, families deserve more than survival. They deserve dignity. They deserve the flavors of home. Yet because funding continues to decline, The Sameer Project has been forced to scale back. Where we once distributed a wider variety of meals, we are increasingly limited to simple vegetarian dishes and rice. On June 19, we distributed 500 vegetable ouzi rice meals, including 150 meals to families in Al-Amer Camp. The total cost of the 500 meals was $840 after 11% commission. The meals were welcomed, but the reality remains heartbreaking: families are not asking for luxuries. They are asking for the chance to eat the foods that connect them to their culture, their memories, and their humanity. Help us get back to operating at capacity in our kitchen. Support our Food and Water Campaign. - @thesameerproject