Richmond-area residents seek to help Gaza victims

Intense images of terrified, bloodied children, Israeli tanks and demolished buildings elicited sad sighs in the darkened meeting space of a Hanover County church.

More than 50 people gathered at the Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Glen Allen on Saturday to raise money for American Near East Refugee Aid, a nonprofit organization that is providing humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the war-torn Gaza Strip.

"Most of us are children of Abraham. Whether you grew up Christian, Muslim or Jewish, we all share the same family, so it is the responsibility of all of us to do what we can to care for others," said the Rev. Terre Balof, the church's minister.

Gabriel Makhlouf, an emeritus professor of medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University, said the event was organized by members of an informal group of Richmond-area residents concerned about the human suffering in Gaza.

Makhlouf, a native of Palestine, said media reports don't fully capture the devastation there.

"What anyone can describe is only a small fraction of what reality is," Makhlouf said.

Saba Abed, a Chesterfield County resident who was born in Gaza, agreed that the humanitarian need is great.

"The news is so devastating. People want to do something to help," Abed said.

Mary Kate Chaath, director of donor development for ANERA, said her organization was one of the first to supply food, medical supplies and other goods to Gaza since fighting began there on Dec. 27.

Contact Melodie N. Martin at (804) 649-6290 or .