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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>Dear friends:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>It's late in the game, but our local coalition for Palestinian rights has again formed a <a href="https://bay-area-gaza-5k.unrwausa.org/team/sac4palestine" target="_blank"><span style='color:blue'>Sacramento team</span></a> for the Sept. 30 Gaza 5K run/walk in San Mateo, a fund-raiser for <a href="https://www.unrwausa.org/" target="_blank"><span style='color:blue'>UNRWA</span></a>, the agency responsible for crucial humanitarian services for Palestinian refugees in Gaza and elsewhere. Trump cut all U.S. funding for it; Biden has only partially restored it; <u>and <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/international/4117034-gop-lawmakers-block-75-million-in-food-aid-for-palestinians-raising-fears-of-humanitarian-disaster/#:~:text=While%20Democrats%20acknowledge%20criticisms%20against,Foreign%20Operations%2C%20and%20Related%20Programs." target="_blank"><span style='color:blue'>two GOP Congress members are right now holding up $75 million in food aid to make a political point</span></a></u>. You can let them know you'll double your donation in response.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>See the graphic below, and messages from Gaza below that. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><u><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>Please help out and pass this on to your own friends, other lists, etc.</span></u></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'> Receiving it from you will more likely spark a response.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>Here's what anyone can do:<o:p></o:p></span></p><ul type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>Make a donation through our team. Go to <a href="https://bay-area-gaza-5k.unrwausa.org/team/sac4palestine" target="_blank"><span style='color:blue'>https://bay-area-gaza-5k.unrwausa.org/team/sac4palestine</span></a> and click on the "<b>donate</b>" button. Scroll down and see the team members. Your $ can be through one of their pages, or general. Same destination.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>Join the team and raise funds based on your own participation -- it helps get a response from your personal friends. To further encourage them, go to the same page and click on the "<b>register for the 5K</b>" link to easily create your own fund-raising sub-page. <b><u>You need not actually run, walk or even be there.</u></b><u> Symbolic solidarity is welcome.</u> A minimal amount raised gets you a T-shirt. There's more swag for larger amounts.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>If you wish, make the early morning trip to San Mateo on Sept. 30; the camaraderie is a blast, as are the food, music, scenery. <b>Want to carpool</b>? Contact me, <a href="mailto:dlmandel@gmail.com" target="_blank"><span style='color:blue'>dlmandel@gmail.com</span></a> or 916 769-1641.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>If there's enough interest, we may have a local run/walk/gathering again this year on the same day at Southside Park. <b>Interested? Contact Deb Condon</b>, <a href="mailto:debcondon@aol.com" target="_blank"><span style='color:blue'>debcondon@aol.com</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><img border=0 width=654 height=481 style='width:6.8125in;height:5.0104in' id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image001.png@01D9EA4D.288F6D90" alt=image.png><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>Here's a video "<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cvfiz8ugVrm/" target="_blank"><span style='color:blue'>from Gaza to the Bay area with love</span></a>" that shows some of UNRWA's activities there.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>Finally, this email from Nahed of UNRWA USA lays out why we do this and why it's so important. Read on...<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A;mso-ligatures:none'>Meet Duaa.</span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A;mso-ligatures:none'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A;mso-ligatures:none'>Duaa was in fifth grade, living in the Gaza Strip, when an Israeli missile hit her neighbor’s home. <b>She went into shock.</b> She couldn’t speak, walk, or do daily activities alone. Her family panicked as they watched their bright 11-year-old slip further and further away.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A;mso-ligatures:none'><br><b>That’s when her UNRWA mental health counselor, Mohamed, stepped in.</b> Mohamed worked tirelessly with Duaa. After six months of patience and persistence, Duaa slowly regained her ability to speak, and returned to school without pressure. Three years later, <b>Duaa was back to the top 10% of her class.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A;mso-ligatures:none'>Today, thousands of children like Duaa still need critical trauma support from UNRWA.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A;mso-ligatures:none'><br><b>This is why you and I are here. We created the Gaza 5K as a way for you to make mental healthcare a reality for Palestine refugees. </b>We can change the lives of countless children like Duaa, and help refugees reclaim their future with every cent we raise. This is why. Don't forget it!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>