For The Catholic Messenger
When she learned that people in Arequipa, Peru, might be having difficulty getting emergency food assistance during the coronavirus pandemic, Cathy Thennes of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Bettendorf contacted her parish’s sister chapel in Arequipa.
Lucila at the sister chapel reported that Arequipa is under stay at home orders, which has left many families with no income. Many have little to eat and basic products are very expensive. There are families who have not received government assistance. “Our Peru Sister Chapel Committee quickly pulled together and raised $900 to send for emergency food relief,” Thennes said.
Within five days of receiving the funds, volunteers from the chapel purchased, organized and distributed food to 69 families, Thennes said. “They put together large bags of food for each family that contained rice, noodles, oats, sugar, oil, tuna, dry meat and more. The families were very grateful.”
Thennes asks Catholics in the diocese to keep the Peruvian Catholics “in your prayers. The government is trying to provide food relief and we are keeping in touch with Lucila.”