When disaster strikes, the most vulnerable often struggle the most. The COVID-19 pandemic put low-income families around the world in difficult positions. Some have been unable to provide for their family’s most basic needs and put food on the table.
When disaster strikes, the most vulnerable often struggle the most. The year 2020 will always be remembered as one of the most challenging times in modern history. The COVID-19 pandemic put low-income families around the world in difficult positions. Some have been unable to provide for their family’s most basic needs and put food on the table.
Many countries went into lockdown to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus. In the Philippines, the sudden closure of stores and other facilities as well as the abrupt drop in tourism caused low-income families to lose their jobs. They struggled to meet their basic needs, which included buying a staple food: rice.
This quickly caught the attention of Dr. Samuel Wang, an evangelist in the Southern Asia-Pacific region. He coordinated a fundraising project to help those who were most affected.
“When we learned of the situation, we were greatly agitated. We want to thank our God; it is His love that motivated us and inspired us. No matter where we are, we are all together, because we are one family in the Lord. Thank the Lord for His great love and also thanks for the love of our brothers and sisters.”
Dr. Wang’s team worked hard to give out sacks of rice. During the first distribution, over 1,200 families received rice and Adventist literature. Community members, such as tricycle drivers, care group members, and utility personnel, came to collect this critical food for their families.
The team adhered to recommended social distancing protocols and safety health measures to prevent the spread of disease. Despite risk to their own health, they believed that God was leading them to care for others.
“Starting March 15, the Philippines was under lockdown, and we knew the people everywhere near the capital were having a difficult time. Especially in Silang, the tricycle drivers’ business was all shut down. They didn’t even have any rice or food at home. So we understood the situation, and we tried to raise some funds to help them. Within 11 hours, we had the money that we needed to supply 2,000 families over here. For each family, we provided 10 kg of rice to help them to go through the difficult time until the lockdown is over.”
Care group leaders at the Southern Asia-Pacific Division headquarters submitted the names of families they knew who potentially needed food assistance. Underprivileged families living in shanties and makeshift houses in six different locations in Silang were some of the recipients of the rice donations.
The second batch of rice distribution was organized four days later for nearly 900 families. Four hundred sacks of rice were given out in total. Adventist literature was included, because the team wanted to minister to the people’s spiritual needs too.
“So our members in different places took the opportunity. This is the right time that we can really minister to people in their needs. And we just followed the steps of Jesus Christ, that He spent His time for the poor helping them in their difficulties. This is what being a Seventh-day Adventist is all about.”
