The Coronavirus crisis is having a global impact. One of the major results is that many have been required to work from home, and many have lost jobs. Here in the United States the unemployment rate is rising towards 15 percent, and much of the economy remains in suspended status as we slowly re-open.
In India, those numbers are dwarfed by many magnitudes, as millions live in urban slum communities as daily wage earners, surviving on under 2 dollars a day. They are daily laborers, construction workers, rickshaw pullers, rag-pickers, and factory workers. In the best of times they and their families live on the brink of financial disaster. For them, the lockdown is a life-and-death matter, as it has taken away the breadwinning capacities. Jobs have disappeared. Businesses have closed. The price of food has increased, and in many slum communities they have not only run out of money, they have also run out of food rations. It is a recipe for starvation. While the government and other organizations are attempting to provide relief, too often the intended beneficiaries are not able to get access to it.
In this crisis, we are asking for your help! We working to provide for the daily needs of families in slums of Indian cities. We are blessed to have friends on the ground in India who are distributing ration kits to people in dire need. So far they have provided food to over 1000 different people in 4 cities since the beginning of the lockdown. In April, over 34,000 meals were provided, and the numbers are going up in May.
Ration kits include 10 kgs rice, 10 kgs wheat flour, 2 kgs of lentils, 1 kg salt, 1 kg sugar, 250 gm tea, 1 kg of vitamins for children, 1 litre of cooking oil, 4 bars of soap, and 250 gm spices. Every donation of $3 provides food for one family for one day.
As a church, we are partnering with those involved in this project and working to raise funds in the name of Christ for their provision. With your help, we can enable these families to make it through the tough time and come out on the other side. We can send the message that someone DOES care about them and that there is hope in Christ.
If you are able to help, consider giving here!
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