GIVING CODE: 128089

REGION: South America

THE NEED: $100,000.00

Families in Venezuela are struggling to put food on the table. Lack of access to food, combined with poverty, is causing a crisis of hunger and malnutrition, particularly among children and senior adults. Many families, including church member and pastors’ families, are coping by eating less nutritious meals, skipping meals, or even migrating to other areas. Many children have dropped out of school because they are too hungry to learn. In response, the church in Venezuela is working with families to create food security. The church has developed a combination of programs to meet needs: - Baskets of Love distributes food staples each month to families with the greatest need for nutrition. - Feeding Hope ensures children and their families receive at least one hot, nutritious meal each week. - Urban Garden and Livestock programs are training households to produce their own food, both for nutrition and for income generation. - Community savings groups are being implemented to teach coping mechanisms and equip community members to better provide for themselves and their families. To date, local churches in Venezuela have provided food for more than 2,400 people. They see this work as a way to express Christ’s love and care for people in their communities. How you can help: - Please pray for hungry families and communities and for churches as they work to support those in need. - $40 can provide food for a family of four for one week - $150 can start one urban garden and livestock project - $180 can provide training to start multiple savings groups - $500 can support a local church’s “Feeding Hope” program to provide hot meals for three months