OUR MISSION

Every child deserves to live a happy, fulfilled and dignified life, away from harm. Every child needs love, food and a stable environment to grow up in. Every child should have the agency to reach their full potential and follow their dreams. But far too many children are denied these opportunities, traumatized and held back by conflict and war. Recipes from the Heart is out way to express support for and solidarity with children around the world and take steps to alleviate a tiny part of their suffering.

WHAT WE DO

Recipes from the Heart raises resources for children in conflict and war and promote reconciliation.

Food is a physical, cultural and social experience - a bridge between peoples, and a unifying human activity. When we speak of “breaking bread” together, we mean setting our differences aside, sharing a moment of companionship and eating together in harmony.

Recipes from the Heart offers different opportunities for individuals to generate resources and raise funds by contributing a recipe to our website and pending cookbook, attending our events to learn about humanitarian work, or inviting friends and/or family to a fundraising meal. All our activities seek to create a community that cares and seeks reconciliation where there has been conflict.

This initiative is for anyone to contribute to — whatever their gender, creed or race.

WHO WE SUPPORT

The funds we raise are in support of INARA, a non-profit that provides access to life-altering medical and mental health care to children impacted by human-induced or natural disasters.

INARA was founded in 2015 by Arwa Damon, a former CNN Senior International correspondent after personally bearing witness to the suffering of children in war zones for over a decade and half. Conflict-impacted children struggle to find someone to support them. INARA steps in to provide them with the care that can help them heal, recover, and move on. It takes on cases when no other institution can.

INARA's mission is to fill in programmatic gaps in access to medical and mental health services for children in communities affected by human-induced and natural disasters.

INARA sponsors children of all nationalities in their areas of operations who need medical attention and psychological help. INARA has a team of well-trained caseworkers and mental health professionals ready to take action. Currently, there are response teams in Gaza, Ukraine, Turkey, Lebanon and Morocco.

INARA’s vision is a world where every child has agency to create a dignified life.

INARA is a registered non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) status in the state of New York. INARA has received two transparency seals from GuideStar and Charity Navigator. One hundred percent of the funds raised and the support provided go directly to beneficiaries and children. INARA also ensures their partner organizations are vetted for transparency and accountability. INARA does not support, endorse, or collaborate with any entity that does not align with their mission and vision.

INARA remains impartial to any conflict and will step in to assist children in need to the best of its capacity, no matter where they may be. INARA has not yet conducted any interventions in Israel, but will do so if a need or programmatic gap arises and if access is available.