Veterans Rebuilding Life®

In February 2026, Veterans Rebuilding Life partnered with Haya Washington, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC. Since 2023, Haya Washington has led humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza, delivering food, water, and emergency shelters for children living in displacement camps across southern Gaza. Known as orphan cities, the displacement camps shelter hundreds of children whose entire families were killed in the conflict. The camp’s supply of food, water, and medical aid, are all provided by humanitarian aid workers who volunteer to remain in Gaza, in spite of the record number of killings by Israeli forces. Veterans Rebuilding Life raised $10,000 to support the collaboration with Haya Washington. One hundred percent of the funds were dedicated to delivering essential aid, including food and clean drinking water, to hundreds of orphaned children in the Al-Baraka camp. In spite of the overwhelming challenges of the crisis, the success of this joint effort demonstrates that meaningful humanitarian action remains possible.

Helen Thomas was just a young girl in love when she first met John. Little did she know then, that they’d spend the rest of their lives together. After successfully raising three children together, they retired, settling into their Bronx, NY home. John Henry Thomas was born in Demopolis, Alabama, in the winter of 1946. On his 22nd birthday, he was drafted into the United States Army and left for to boot camp in Fort Myers, Virginia. John became a Communications Center Specialist, responsible for relaying critical information during combat operations. By the summer of 1968, he was deployed to Vietnam. Like so many, John returned from war with scars that would affect him for the rest of his life. He was exposed to Agent Orange, which led to chronic health issues related to cancer. Over the years, John endured numerous medical treatments and procedures. After John’s sudden passing late one night, Helen was left to navigate the difficult aftermath. The VA reported that he had suffered a stroke, but also acknowledged that his service-connected health conditions likely played a role in his death. Yet, when Helen reached out for help with his burial expenses, the support she hoped for never came. Feeling lost and alone, Helen didn’t know where to turn. That’s when she received a call that would change everything. Veterans Rebuilding Life had learned of her situation and reached out to offer assistance. A case manager was assigned to Helen, helping her navigate the complex process and ensuring that the VA provided the support and services she so rightfully deserved. Veterans Rebuilding Life covered the cost of a professional home health aide to assist Helen during her adjustment to living alone. Her case manager also helped her file a: Dependency and Indemnity Compensation claim (DIC) which provided much-needed debt relief. Now, Helen is receiving the support she needs, along with a sense of peace she hadn’t felt in months. “I felt helpless, but now I know I’m not alone.”

Six-year-old Mustafa Fathi suffered a severe injury to his right eye that left him with significant vision loss. In an effort to save his eyesight, the little boy underwent multiple surgeries at Westeye Hospital in Iraq, including cataract removal, vitrectomy, and silicone oil implantation and removal in the months that followed his injury. Despite these procedures, Mustafa experienced significant vision loss. Doctors reported that he could only perceive hand movements with his right eye. To preserve what remained of his vision, Mustafa required a lens implant surgery. Mustafa’s family had exhausted their savings and could not afford the surgery. At only six years old, the boy risked total vision loss in his eye. VRL’s nonprofit partners: IID and WB recognized the need for medical intervention and reached out to Veterans Rebuilding Life for support. Within 24 hours, VRL approved sponsorship of the mission and raised the funds necessary to complete the procedure. On Sept. 29, 2025, Mustafa underwent successful lens-implant surgery. The $1,336 cost was fully covered by VRL donors, whose generosity gave a child the gift of sight, and hope for a brighter future.

Abd al-Rahman Mustafa Ali is one of many children born into the hardship of displacement. His life began in Al-Hol, a camp for internally displaced people (IDP), where medical resources are extremely limited. Ali was born with a congenital deformity in his left foot, caused by an umbilical cord entanglement in utero. The lack of adequate prenatal care meant his birth came with complications that required immediate medical attention. By the time he turned four, the condition had progressed, resulting in motor nerve damage in his left ankle and foot. This was confirmed in a medical report by Dr. Saeed, a specialist in pediatric orthopedic surgery with extensive experience in treating congenital deformities. Ali’s case was brought to the attention of VRL’s humanitarian partners at the Iraqi Institution for Development (IID). Working hand in hand, our two organizations raised the funds needed to cover the cost of Ali’s surgeries, multiple procedures aimed at correcting the deformity and improving his ability to walk. On May 28, 2025, the surgery was successfully performed at Al-Madina Hospital in Mosul, under the care of Dr. Mohammad Nazar. The full cost of the procedures, including post-operative care, was $2,300 USD. Thanks to the generous donations contributed by Veterans Rebuilding Life supporters, Ali now has the opportunity to walk, play, and grow like any other child. We are deeply grateful for your continued commitment to our humanitarian missions, your generosity saves lives.

Meet Yasir, the most cheerful child our team has ever met. The team fell in love with Yasir through his photo where had a wide grin on his face, in spite of his severe birth deformity. From the moment we saw his photo, his infectious smile captured our hearts. Despite having a cleft lip and a challenging start to life, including a botched surgery when he was just a few months old, Yasir's joy seems unwavering. Yasir lives in the historic quarters of Mosul, an area that was heavily damaged during the conflict but is slowly being rebuilt after the defeat of ISIS eight years ago. His home, a small, half-demolished building affected by the war, is shared with his grandparents, his aunt (a single mother of two), and his parents. Yasir’s father is the sole breadwinner, working long hours at a gas station for just $10 a day, and unfortunately, he cannot read or write. Yasir’s mother, also illiterate, experienced 15 years of infertility before conceiving him. During her pregnancy, she was diagnosed as malnourished and anemic. Despite these challenging circumstances, Yasir’s radiant smile lights up the lives of everyone around him. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, Yasir will be able to celebrate his second birthday with an even brighter, more beautiful smile.