A Gift of Food at a Time of Need

When COVID lockdowns began in 2020, many faced great difficulty. Even many people with a regular paying position lost their jobs due to companies losing business.  For those surviving on day labor, their situations became grim.

With new lockdowns in place, the situation for so many children has become dire. To alleviate hunger, LWB was happy to provide a month’s worth of food relief to 100 children and their families.  To date, we have provided these families with food during May, June, and July, and we will be returning to provide food again during the month of August. 

Reet and his older sister both have a blood condition called Thalassemia.  This requires they receive weekly blood transfusions, eat a healthy diet, and stay free from sickness/infection as much as possible.   Reet’s father drives a rickshaw, and Reet’s mother works as a housemaid.  

With lockdowns in place, the need for a rickshaw is limited, and hiring a household maid is a risk that most are unwilling to make.  With no income right now, the parents were struggling to feed their children.   The family is very thankful to LWB for giving this important gift of food during this difficult season.

Swarup is another boy who received our support.  He lives with his father, his grandmother, and his younger brother.   Swarup’s father lost his job at a small organization during the first round of COVID and was just managing to make ends meet doing odd jobs when the second round of COVID hit.   The lockdown brought with it the inability for Swarup’s father to earn money for the family.  The food relief provided to Swarup and his family was greatly appreciated – the family no longer goes to bed hungry.

Bivan lives with his sister and his mother.  His mother earns money by taking care of the elderly.  This job is one that is not possible during the times and fears of COVID – and thus, the family’s income source is non-existent.  The family was surviving on the mid-day meal offered by Bivan’s school – but 1 meal for 3 people each day is not enough.   Now, thanks to LWB’s emergency food support, Bivan and his family now have enough to eat.  Bivan even commented about how great the quality of rice was that we provided.  He said he hasn’t had such good rice in a long time and was happy that he could eat it simply, with just a little salt, for lunch. 

Every child deserves to know they are valued, loved, and safe.  With each child that we can help with food, we are showing love and helping them to recognize their value and to have hope for their future. 

Thanks to all our donors (our LWB family) for supporting our work and believing with us that Every Child Counts.    We could not do it without you!