Food Security Crisis | Global Impact
While our normal here in America may look different than it did just 6 months ago, it’s not nearly the same as those in impoverished communities. In South Africa, mothers are waking up and wondering how they’re going to feed their kids. The country is 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. Even before the pandemic struck, 13.7 million people in this 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 is some good news! Because of the commitment and 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!
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 the gap and make a difference. We delivered basic food supplies, gas stoves and vegetable seeds for long term 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 and widowers 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 to bake bread. We are buying back the loaves of bread each week and 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 SE 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 a national lockdown where they have no food source or access to markets.
Because of your generosity, we’ve been able to wrap the Westside family around our global family! You have helped by 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 families. Thank you, Westside, for your generosity!