In the photo above, volunteers at a church in San Martín assemble food kits for delivery.
Mission Hills Church, thank you for your generous support of Compassion’s relief efforts in Peru. Your support was significant as Compassion’s church partners distributed emergency food and hygiene supplies to 1,444 highly-vulnerable families in Peru. Due to the pandemic, many families experienced a loss of income, illness, or other factors that placed them at risk of food insecurity and malnutrition.
Purpose of Project
This intervention was developed to provide emergency food and hygiene supplies to 1,444 households in Peru. In March of 2020, the first case of COVID-19 was detected in Peru. To curb the spread of the coronavirus, the government declared a state of emergency and mandatory lockdown. The country has the highest mortality rate per capita of any major country in the world.
Due to the lockdown, families who were already living in poverty became vulnerable to malnutrition and food insecurity. Unable to work or earn income, many families were unable to afford food. Compassion’s church partners in Peru identified the households with the greatest needs and set out to help them. Some pastors and church volunteers were also identified as at-risk of food insecurity.
-
- Church staff delivered food and supplies to Jhon and his mother.
-
- Natalia is raising her granddaughter, the food baskets she receives from the church are vital in providing nourishment.
General Objective
This intervention was designed to reduce the risk of malnutrition for 1,444 highly vulnerable families (the households of 1,700 Compassion beneficiaries) during quarantine. A secondary goal was to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among church staff responding to the crisis.
Specific Objectives
- Provide a 15-day supply of food for 1,444 families (including 3 meals a day). The families were identified as highly vulnerable to malnutrition.
- Provide personal protective equipment to the 260 church staff members responding to the crisis.
Results
All objectives were completed on time and within budget. All of the households who received food baskets were positively impacted. Churches who participated in this project gave positive feedback on several fronts. The church volunteers and beneficiary families benefitted from being in contact with each other through the delivery of food, medicine and gifts. In addition, churches felt strengthened to contribute with local resources. Participating churches are now recognized by local authorities and there is greater participation from church members. Families in the community are also more receptive to public health advice and information from tutors on good nutrition for children.
-
- At the Iglesia del Nazareno Chiclayito, church staff prepare to deliver hygiene kits to parents.
-
- In San José de Sisa, volunteers from PE0681 delivered food to the homes of Compassion beneficiaries.
-
- Javier, the director of PE0563, checks the temperatures of mothers as they arrive to pick up medicines for their children.
Testimonies
Before COVID-19, I was a nanny and participated in church activities. When the epidemic and quarantine began, we felt very sad. I could no longer work and my family did not have food, but the Compassion project helped us. The food baskets and hygiene kits are a big relief. This has been something unexpected, but even with this emergency, we are ready to support our children in their education and reinforce what we have learned in the church, thanking God at all times.
Patricia, mother of a beneficiary
-
- Church volunteers from PE0436 prepare to distribute hygiene kits to beneficiary families.
-
- Church staff in Chilca-Junin (PE0356) are prepared with biosecurity kits as they head out to support beneficiaries.
When the COVID-19 epidemic began, we were very concerned for the children. Many of them only received nutritious meals when they attended the program. Thanks to the support of Compassion, we were able to safely deliver food baskets and reach more families of beneficiaries. The biosecurity kits made volunteers and church staff feel protected. Now we deliver food baskets and medical supplies with greater security. We have shared the COVID-19 prevention information to beneficiaries and motivated families to take precautions.
I am grateful for your concern and your noble heart, since with this intervention you have greatly blessed us. Your support equips us to protect ourselves, our beneficiaries and our community.
Ruth, project director (PE0395)
-
- Veronica, the director of PE0204, prepares to distribute food baskets to families.
-
- Families received nutritious food and vital hygiene supplies.
Thank You
Mission Hills Church, thank you for partnering with Compassion International. Your generosity made a vital difference in the lives of 1,444 families in Peru who received nutritious food and much-needed hygiene items. It is a privilege to partner with you.
