This is one of Usha’s daughters receiving a ration pack from Project Director - Daisy Samuel
Dear friends and supporters,
I wanted to give you an important update regarding our work in India. Mission COVID-19 is still going on and our staff are exhausted. Every day we provide meals for slum people who have no income to buy food or essential items. The people in Kotdwara are now permitted to go to the markets which are opened for 5 hours a day, however, many are not permitted to work. With no work, they have no money. With no money, they have no food. This situation is rapidly turning into a human tragedy. Sadly we are being told of thousands of people across India who are dying of starvation due to the COVID-19 lockdown. This is not being shown in the media. Thankfully we are not aware of any deaths in Kotdwara, thanks to ‘Project Help’.
Just this week I received this report from our Project Administrator, and it has some great news… all of this made possible, thanks to the generosity of our Australian friends and supporters.
Usha’s Story
‘Project Help’ is continuously spreading smiles on people’s face. Please have a look on the attached picture and see their relieved and happy smiles. This family is of our Slum Centre kids, Kanchan, Shristi and Kashish. Kanchan’s mother is Usha she is 34 years old. Her husband Mr. Soni is an alcoholic. Usha (pictured bottom right) says she can’t stop her tears when she thinks of her hardships. This family is the most suffering family of our slums area. They all live in a very small shack made up of polythene plastic, used sarees and some bamboos. This family is an inspiration to all of us because they still smile. When we asked what is the reason for your smile, they say;
“God who have given us a family like Project Help who takes care of our every need.”
This filled me with tears and I was very proud at the same time. Yesterday due to a heavy storm their hut was destroyed. The family is already suffering because of lockdown as Usha and her husband can’t go out and do their daily wage earnings. They say they didn’t have anything to eat, so they came to the Project Help office and reported their suffering. Immediately Mr Amit Samuel Sir took action and rations (essential food supplies) were provided to them.
We want to thank all of our sponsors that without their help we would not have been able to help these families. WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OUR SPONSORS FROM BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS, that without your help these people would have not survived this long.
May God bestow his best blessings upon you and your family, and keep you safe.
Indian Lockdown extended until 30th May - maybe longer
Our daily food distribution will continue until the Indian Government ends the lockdown in two weeks. Until then we anticipate that we continue to serve 400 meals twice a day, which adds up to 5600 people fed each week.
Please share this email with others who you think can help us. Our meals cost just over $400 a day, so this is another $6000 that we will require until then.
This week our work was reported in one of India’s leading newspapers, which has over 100 000 readers just in our town of Kotdwara. In addition to providing emergency food rations, our team is writing COVID education and awareness articles, which are being published in the local media. We are so proud of our team who are working incredibly hard to make this possible. Our 15 paid staff each has a role in helping. Our teachers are working herd to check in with their students and families.
In the face of such human suffering and tragedy caused by COVID-19, Usha’s story is just one many reminding us that, love, kindness and compassion make a significant difference in people’s lives. We join our Project Administrator in thanking you from the bottom of our hearts.
