Over the past year, the organization has hosted dozens of events at restaurants, cafes and bakeries around the Valley, raising nearly $100,000 to support organizations offering aid in Gaza.
“People want to shop in line with their values," he says. "They just don’t know where to find (those places) and how to find them."
That’s where Food for Palestine comes in.
As springtime and Ramadan approach, Food for Palestine has a slate of events in the works to make those connections and raise money. That includes its second annual festival, which will be held on Saturday night in the lots east of the Islamic Community Center of Tempe.
The event brings together halal food vendors, local artisans and community organizations to fundraise and bring awareness to the ongoing war, as well as the people and culture of Palestine. A virtual reality experience will allow attendees to see what a night in Palestine looks like.
“We’re trying to cultivate this idea of bringing the community together for a greater cause,” Abdelkarim says. “We’re trying to bring to light what is going on in Palestine.”
The vendors serving and selling items at the event plan to donate at least 25% of their proceeds to Islamic Relief USA, Helping Hands for Relief and Development and Rammun Foundation.
Although the initial aim of Food for Palestine was to encourage people to vote with their wallets, Abdelkarim says attendees have found community at events like the festival.
Nader Naji was just getting his Tempe restaurant, Nad’s Chicken & Seafood, off the ground during last year’s event, so he attended as a guest. Now, he’s borrowed a friend’s food truck for Saturday. Naji will serve chicken tenders, boneless wings, shrimp and fries.
While all food available at the festival is halal, it covers a diverse range of cuisines. Others will serve wood-fired pizzas, tacos, street corn, matcha, desserts and more. That variety may help dispel the myth that only Mediterranean or Middle Eastern cuisine is halal, Abdelkarim says.
Food for Palestine relies on restaurants, cafes, caterers and food trucks as the hub to engage community and fundraise for Gaza relief efforts.
Food for Palestine
“I would do anything just to help. It’s the least we can do, to be honest, for them or anywhere else in the world,” he says.
Naji adds that now, during a cease-fire, it's a critical time to raise money to send aid.
“It’s a good opportunity to be involved, to be a part of something like this just to help people who are affected by the war,” he says.
In addition to raising awareness, the event also serves as a launch pad for Goodhood, an app developed by the Food for Palestine team to help people find restaurants and other businesses that reflect their values and dietary preferences.
“It’s this loop we want to build, this cycle of giving and supporting local,” Abdelkarim says.
The festival will also feature henna tattoos, a kid-friendly bounce house and live painting by artist Bianey Luna. As a Mexican-American who has focused on reconnecting with her Indigenous roots, Luna says she can relate to and wants to help those in Palestine.
“These are just human beings who want to go back home,” Luna says.
The Food for Palestine team is also organizing fundraising events at local restaurants during Ramadan, which begins on the evening of Feb. 28 and continues through March 29. During the month, Muslims fast during the daytime and come together for meals after the sun has set.
Spots such as WhereUBean Coffee, Golden Restaurant and Bakery and Honey 2 A Bee Coffee & Crepes will craft special menus or extend their hours, donating a portion of profits to relief in Gaza. Food for Palestine will share upcoming events on social media.
These events are largely attended by members of the Muslim community, but organizers note that they are open to all. Echoing Abdelkarim, both Luna and Naji shared the camaraderie they felt at Food for Palestine events. Finding community is more important now than ever, Abdelkarim says.
“Fighting for good does not have to be boring or hard,” he says. “We’re growing the power of these groups that are trying to affect good change for society and at the same time we’re raising donations and everyone is having a good time.”
Food for Palestine Festival
4 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22205 E. Sixth St., Tempe
