300 people attended Gaza fundraiser
headlined by George Galloway

Participants at a July 2 “Viva Palestina” fundraising event pledged $103,000 for medical relief for Palestinians in Gaza. This generous sum is the largest grassroots fundraising effort for Palestinians in Kansas or Missouri – ever.

Mr. George Galloway, British member of parliament, gave a much-anticipated speech to a capacity crowd of 300 at the Overland Park Marriott. Participants in Cedar Rapids, Iowa watched via a live video conference.

Credit for the large amount raised goes to Galloway for his convincing appeal for direct relief to Palestinians in Gaza. Members of Kansas City’s Muslim and Arab-American community, as well as many other residents responded generously.

The amount raised will purchase six trucks to be purchased in Egypt and driven to Gaza. Three audience members will be flying to Egypt to drive the vehicles in a convoy flying US flags and banners to begin a two-week stay in Gaza. Galloway mentioned that his three-month tour of US cities raised $2 million.

One participant “found the event informative and practical, the tone was as much of a call to action as it was a personal, emotional reaction to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.” Representatives of several organizations supported the appeal for funds, including American Friends Service Committee—KC, Peaceworks, Citizens for Peace and Justice in the Holy Land (Lee’s Summit, MO), Seventh Generation Indigenous Visionaries (Haskell student group traveling to Palestine on August 1), American Muslims for Palestine, Citizens for Justice in the Middle East, and MAS Freedom.  < read MORE | photos later >

July 2, 2009 - "Viva Palestina" Fundraiser for Gaza

British MP George Galloway and
Vietnam Vet Ron Kovic lead convoy to Gaza

July 2 fundraiser event in Overland Park features
Galloway and Mahdi Bray

Citizens for Justice in the Middle East, Muslim American Society Freedom, Citizens for Peace & Justice in the Holy Land, AFSC-KC, Peaceworks Kansas City and American Muslims for Palestine invite you to attend a Viva Palestina fundraiser featureing British Member of Parliament George Galloway in Kansas City on July 2. Come support the campaign to bring medical supplies to Gaza!

$1,220 raised for Haskell student youth delegation

Supporters give Haskell student group
a boost in fundraising

Despite a sagging US economy that has forced many people to reduce financial support, a fundraiser dinner held at Holy Land Cafe in Overland Park, Kansas on Sunday, May 31 was a HUGE SUCCESS. Participants contributed $1,220 towards the 7th Generation Indigenous Visionaries (7GIV), the Haskell student group traveling to Palestine in August.

May 31, 2009 - Fundraiser for Native youth delegation

CJME hosts fundraiser for Haskell student group
traveling to Palestine

CJME will host a fundraiser dinner on Sunday, May 31 at 6:00 pm. All proceeds will go to the 7th Generation Indigenous Visionaries, a group comprised of current students and alumni of Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas, to help pay for their travel expenses. The dinner will feature speakers and take place at the Holy Land Café, 12275 W 87th Street Parkway, Overland Park, Kansas.

> Read more on Fundraiser for Indigenous Youth Delegation

> Download fundraiser event flyer (Adobe PDF)

> Check it out - FACEBOOK EVENT

More on the May 31 Fundraiser Benefit for 7GIV -

Story-tellers at the Crossroads: American Indian youth group seeks bonds with Palestinian youth

January 30, 2009 - Fundraiser Benefit for Palestinians in Gaza

Relief tally increases to $4200

The Gaza fundraiser dinner held Friday, January 30, and hosted by CJME with sponsors MAS-Freedom, Peaceworks/KC, and AFSC-KC was a huge success – we raised $3800 for direct humanitarian relief! More financial donations came in after the dinner bringing the new tally to over $4200.

The response to the fundraiser was so large that we had to turn people away. One hundred people attended the dinner at Holy Land Café. This amount will be donated directly to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for relief to Palestinians living in Gaza.

"...when we passed a sign saying Hope Flowers..."

Two members of CJME, Ginger and the Rev. Jim Kenney, are now in Bethlehem and yesterday visited Hope Flowers. I thought you'd appreciate their account, below. We hope to do another fund raiser for HFS in the new year. Another of our projects is sending an Episcopalian rector on an Interfaith Peace Builders tour in the spring or summer. She has been very supportive and a first-hand look at what is happening in the Holy Land will galvanize the rest of her church. Here is the account of the HFS visit, some of which concerns KC folks--but you can skip over that stuff.

< Read full letter from Jim & Ginger >

"Just kill me here, I want my land!"

Qalqilya North Terminal, where there's a maze of turnstiles and fences and electronics with a grim stone pillbox looming overhead, from which the soldiers can observe the poor souls who, having permits to work in Israel, desperately line up in the predawn dark to be checked through in time to meet their rides to get to work.

< Read full story on Mondo Weiss Blog >

> December 30, 2008 - Take action by calling or writing public officials

$10,000 Fundraising Goal Met
for Hope Flowers School

The October 13, 2007 major fundraising event for Hope Flowers School in Bethlehem, Palestine held at Saint Andrew Christian Church in Olathe, Kansas and the November 4 Sacred Concert held at Village Presbyterian Church were both a huge success. The current fundraising amount raised after the October 13 and November 4 concert event is $10,000!

Our fundraising for Hope Flowers School in Bethlehem has made friends for the school at the same time as it's educated about the dire situation in Bethlehem--and in Palestine in general. The fundraising for Hope Flowers School has had support from New Song Church; Disciples Peace Fellowship; Peace and Justice Group; Grace Convenant Church; Saint Andrew Christian Church; Heartland Presbytery; and many of you.

Stay tuned for a full report soon!