The Philippines has been under strict lockdown since the pandemic began in March.
Small businesses were forced to close, and many families’ livelihoods have been threatened. By the summertime, outside assistance resources were depleted.
Send Relief immediately took action to provide emergency food rations to the families most impacted by this economic draught. After consulting with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, local government officials gave Send Relief partners a list of “the poorest of the poor” in each of the 13 provinces. Families with young children, widows and disabled individuals were specifically prioritized.
In collaboration with the local government, Send Relief was able to provide immediate assistance to all of the families the officials identified!
National partners and Send Relief teams are now recognized throughout the communities as caring and compassionate leaders who are capable of enacting real change in the region. Because of this project, a foundation for future relationships and trainings has been laid. Additionally, informational pamphlets on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and gospel tracts were distributed to each family along with their rations of rice, noodles and other non-perishables.
“I’m 65 years old and live with my husband. Our livelihood is farming and raising livestock. When the enhanced community quarantine started, we were dismayed because the marketplaces were closed, and we were not able to sell crops or our livestock,” said one recipient. “With that, our income for the past few months was greatly affected. We can barely afford to supply our daily needs. With God’s blessings, I received food aid from the [Send Relief] team, and it really helped us a lot. I also received tracts from them that really encouraged me to trust God even in this situation. First of all, I would like to thank God for using teams to help us here in the Philippines. We are so grateful for the blessings that you shared. I may not be able to pay you back for what you have given me, but I know that God will do that for me. God bless you all the more!”
The project eventually gained so much traction that the mayor of one of the regions spoke about Send Relief’s intervention efforts! Even more exciting, most of the families witnessed to had not previously heard the gospel and were able to hear God’s message of love for the very first time.
Pray for these families to find sustainable ways to provide for their children during the ongoing pandemic and for their continued spiritual growth.
To support more emergency projects responding to the coronavirus, go to sendrelief.org/give.
Published November 19, 2020