Hampers of Hope
The government stay at home policy during Covid19 has severely impacted upon society, particularly the weak and vulnerable. Many were out of work, and those living on a week to week basis were running out of food. SI Esperance partnered with the staff of ASJA Girl’s College, Barrackpore who identified needy families in the community and provided a venue as a collection point for the distribution of hampers. Through this action, we enabled and empowered the families to survive until work resumed.
This project involved
1) Partnering with ASJA Girls’ College to identify 70 families that had been economically affected by COVID-19 in their area.
2) Selecting food items and other appropriate items that were needed by families to help them meet basic nutritional and hygiene requirements.
3) Selection of a small business (supermarket) in the area that would economically benefit from our purchases.
4) Purchasing the hampers and arranging their delivery to ASJA Girls’ College.
5) Distribution of the hampers in partnership with ASJA Girls’ College.
6) Preparation and dissemination of information about the project for the electronic and print media.
This project provided basic food supplies to support the global effort to works towards a world of No Poverty, Zero Hunger and the perpetuation of Good Health and Well-Being for People, all of which are parts of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We increased the comfort level of 70 families as they live with the uncertainty that COVID-19 has brought into their lives. We empowered the parents and enabled them to feed their families until they were allowed to go back to work. The club action in social media and newspaper publicity raised the profile of Soroptimism and created awareness of the need for others to take action in providing support for the less fortunate. People came forward and volunteered funds to assist in the continuation of this project.
Compassion into Action
Soroptimist International Esperance kicked into action after a story was carried in the local newspaper about a family in South Trinidad whose unfortunate circumstances turned dire as a result of the economic fallout from the Covid19 pandemic. The family resides in a dilapidated house located in a flood prone area in our ‘catchment’ area. Members were moved by their humility and need. Many of the family members including the children were females. We had already embarked on an outgoing distribution to victims affected by the Covid19 Lockdown so mechanisms were already in place to execute some of what was required to give some stability to the family.
The project involved reaching out to the family via telephone conversations to inquire their needs. The task to acquire the
much needed items during the ‘lockdown” entailed sourcing the items, having them properly packaged and delivered to the family’s home. The family welcomed food, clothing, a 3-burner table top stove and cleaning agents. Additionally, medication for the elderly couple and items for the baby were purchased. Club members and other well-wishers also personally donated items for the children.
The family greatly appreciated our support. In addition to our material contribution, some members also visited the family and
were able to provide some words of comfort and motivation. The females in particular, were happy to know that an organisation such as ours, was actively involved in improving the lives of women in their community. The efforts of SI Esperance touched the hearts of many well-wishers who privately contributed. We were pleased to be able to educate the family to deal with the ramifications Covid19, and to empower them by fulfilling their immediate needs which will enable them to get back on their feet. Their response,
“Thank you for the time and commitment you have given … it is greatly appreciated!”
