The final total raised is over $5000. More than 30 artists contributed 79 beautiful works of art to the auction. And a special shout-out to Java Cat Coffee House which hosted an amazing display of these pieces and a July 2 meet-and-greet with some of the artists. Please patronize Java Cat and consider giving them a good review here.

Online bids open June 28 and close July 8, 2024
Artists Meet-and-Greet Tuesday July 2, 5:30 – 7:00 pm at Java Cat Coffee Shop
Art on Display Starting June 21 at Java Cat Coffee Shop and Online 

Madison-Rafah Sister City Project (MRSCP) is partnering with more than 25 artists to present a silent art auction in response to the worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

Bidding will open online at 8 am CT on June 28 and run until July 8 on more than 50 works of art, with proceeds going to Middle East Children’s Alliance  (MECA) for immediate purchase and distribution of desperately needed humanitarian aid in Gaza.  Many of the artists represented are Wisconsin based, and their donated work includes photography, acrylic and mixed media paintings, pottery, textiles, prints, and embroidery. 

For more information and to view auction items go to Art Auction for Emergency Relief for Gaza. 

In addition most of the actual works will be available for public view starting June 21 at Java Cat Coffee Shop, 4221 Lien Road on Madison’s eastside.

A meet-and-greet event with artists is scheduled for Tuesday, July 2 at Java Cat, from 5:30 to 7 pm. Attendees will have a chance to talk with some of the artists and to learn more about the work of the Middle East Children’s Alliance in Gaza.

Because entry of humanitarian aid continues to be severely (and unnecessarily) restricted by Israel, the people of Gaza are facing an unprecedented level of death, injury, displacement, disease, trauma and destruction of their ability to survive in their own land. Hunger is now so severe that the large majority of Gaza’s 2.3 million people – especially babies, children, pregnant women, the elderly and those suffering from chronic diseases – face starvation and famine.

In spite of these difficulties, MECA’s Gaza staff has worked from the beginning of the crisis with local and international partners to source food and other necessities,  procuring food and hygiene supplies from stores, warehouses, factories, and farmers.  

Most recently MECA has been using international donations and their network of local grassroots community organizations to:

• Deliver boxes of fresh produce from farmers and other food items like rice and lentils to 14,000 families now in Khan Younis (next to Rafah) and “Middle Areas” just north. 
• Provide soap, shampoo, sanitary pads, laundry detergent, toothbrushes and toothpaste. 
• Prepare about 8,400 hot meals a day, even after they had to close their community kitchens in Rafah.
• Bring clean water by truck to families who fled from the North to Gaza City, and to several areas in areas of Khan Younis for people who fled from Rafah. 
• Begin installation for four new solar-powered “Maia” water desalination and purification units to provide drinking water to thousands of families daily.

Since 2003 MRSCP has supported many humanitarian projects for the people of Rafah including water purification systems, mental health resources, a playground, a children’s library, a house reconstruction, and more. Many of these projects have been in partnership with MECA and we remain committed to working with them to deliver humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.