Our story

About us.

Speak & Give grew out of a humanitarian mission to Gaza in September 2024. While working at a local clinic, Dr. Deborah Weidner began helping to source medications that the clinic had run out of, as well as providing food and financial assistance directly to people in need. What began as individual efforts to help planted the seed for something much larger.

It was during that mission that she met Brother Rajab, who managed the clinic. Their shared experience became the foundation of a partnership that would continue long after the mission ended.

Determined to continue helping families in Gaza, Dr. Weidner faced a practical challenge: how to get assistance to those who needed it while minimizing administrative expenses, transfer fees, and other costs. Together, she and Brother Rajab began developing ways to overcome these obstacles and make the most of the resources available to them.

Brother Rajab personally oversees the work on the ground, from carefully sourcing supplies and negotiating prices to organizing distributions and documenting their delivery. He receives no personal compensation for his work, accepting only reimbursement for necessary expenses. His dedication and humility are reflected in his frequent du’as, asking Allah to accept their efforts, grant them success, and allow the work to continue.

What began with food distributions has grown to include water and other essential assistance, as well as the construction and full funding of Masjid al-Hadi and the establishment of Qur’anic education programs for children and adults.

Perhaps one of the most remarkable aspects of this partnership is that Brother Rajab does not speak English, and Dr. Weidner does not speak Arabic. Yet, through the grace of Allah, they have found ways to communicate, navigate extraordinary challenges, and accomplish far more than either could have imagined when they first met.

Throughout this work, their commitment has remained the same: to serve those in need, honor the amānah (sacred trust) entrusted to them, and provide meaningful documentation of how resources are used.

Alhamdulillah, all praise belongs to Allah. Whatever good has come from Speak & Give is through His grace and the generosity of those who have made this work possible. May Allah accept these efforts, bless everyone who has contributed, and allow this work to continue.