Food Scarcity South Africa + SE Asia | Generosity Story

Renee Terrill:
While our normal here in America may look different than it did just six months ago, we're not waking up each day wondering if we can feed our children.

Dereck Nunley:
In South Africa, mothers are waking up and wondering how they're going to feed their kids. The country's reeling from the effects of the pandemic. Mothers are feeding their children weeds to survive, and one in three adults surveyed is going to bed hungry.

Renee Terrill:
Even before the pandemic struck, 13.7 million people in the small country were in danger of starvation, and the number is now over 15 million. Sadly, this past summer, South Africa was named the global epicenter of COVID hunger. But there's also some good news. Because of the commitment and the generosity of Westside and long-term relationships with our South African partners, our global team has been able to step into this food security crisis.

Dereck Nunley:
Within days of being made aware of the need, Westside marshaled resources and utilized connections and were able to identify 12 high risk communities where we could stand in the gap and make a difference.

Renee Terrill:
We've delivered basic food supplies, gas stoves, and vegetable seeds for longterm gardens. We already had seasoned local mamas working in these communities and they stepped up and agreed to cook healthy, nutrition-heavy soups and stews for the orphans and the widows in these vulnerable communities. We facilitated the provision of gas ovens in 10 villages, along with training on how to use them and provided the ingredients for bread. We're buying back these loaves of bread each week, and we use them at our crisis feeding centers. This enables us to both address the hunger and provide a small business for women in a country where unemployment is at almost 50%. We've also been able to make an impact during this COVID pandemic in Southeast Asia. We've provided 38 village pastors in Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos with seeds, farm tools, and chickens so they can provide for their families during the national lockdown where they have no food sources or access to the market.

Dereck Nunley:
Because of your generosity, we've been able to wrap the Westside family around our global family.

Renee Terrill:
Meeting them in their greatest need, providing food so their children don't go hungry, and providing the security of gardens and jobs so parents can support their family.

Dereck Nunley:
Thank you, Westside, for your generosity.

Renee Terrill:
Thank you, Westside, for your generosity.