This is Good News! A Story about the impact of Village of Hope’s Food Hamper Distribution

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the children and families of Villages of Hope (VOH) and the way we operate our programs. In the countries where VOH Centres are located (Burundi, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe), movement, restrictions and school closures due to COVID-19 have made caring for the VOH children more challenging and yet more important than ever.

One of the ways we’re responding to the unique challenges and needs related to the pandemic is through our new Hope Packs. These packs provide essential items for VOH children and their families.

We have different packs, each addressing specific needs such as food, vitamins, masks, and sanitizer to help keep the children and their families healthy and safe.

Here are some “good news” testimonies!

Shandrea Storey Sasa:
Thank you so much for the food we are getting. I am in Grade 3. I love food and I love you too. Thank you so much. Sometimes there is no food at home.

Shandrea’s Mother:
My name is Perpetual Storey. I am a single mother of three. I would like to thank you for the much-needed support you are giving us; your prayers and love amaze us. Whenever we are called to the school offices, we have smiles and hope knowing that there are people out there who care about us. Most of the time the food hampers came in so handy when we are in so much need of food. The days we receive our hampers, smiles can’t be wiped off our faces as we are able to make homemade bread for ourselves from the flour which is a part of the hamper.

Words may never be enough to explain the love and support we receive from you, family. Yes, things have been harsh here due to COVID-19 that has made life more unbearable for some, if not most of us. My prayer is that God Almighty continues to bless and meet you at your point of need. And may you not tire in doing good and blessing us. We pray for you and we love you. We value our hampers and use each and every item sparingly so that we never run out.   

Allan Mako:
Whenever we received the food hampers during the lockdown, I felt happy. I am thankful for what you did and still do for me and my family. As a family, the hampers really helped a lot. My parents were not going to work so the hampers really helped us a lot. May the Lord Almighty bless you and your families.

Allan’s Parents:
Our hearts are filled with thanksgiving for your support. We acknowledge your good works towards us. Thank you so much. Our regards to everyone sponsoring us with food in these days of this deadly pandemic disease of the coronavirus. Your gift means a lot in our lives. We appreciate your heart. May the Almighty shield, prosper, guide and hold you in His hands. We join hands in prayer in our homes for the Almighty to keep you and cover you. May God bless you with much needed support, wisdom, courage and good health and give you more years to live.  

Panashe Kasambarare:
Thank you so much for being on my side when I was in need. When I see what you do for me, I think that you are like an angel from God. May God bless you and may you be happy always. My family and I are grateful for all that you are doing. Thank you for the food hampers that we are receiving during these hard times. May the good God continue to bless you because of your love, care and support you are showing to me and my family.

Panashe and Chiedza’s Parents:
I am happy to testify about how our lives changed when my children were selected for this program. Their future is brighter. We are forever grateful for the food hampers that we are receiving during these hard times. They are going a long way in meeting our basic need of food. It is not easy to search for food during lockdowns and we are forever grateful for your support. May God continue to bless you because of your love and support. As a family, we are praying for you every day and we love you very much.

Isheanesu Sokorino:
From the day I started getting food from Village of Hope, I felt happy and loved knowing that there is someone who cares for me. Thank you for the food you sent because here in Zimbabwe, food is now costly. I do not know how to express my feelings of gratitude. The food helped a lot in my family because my father is not going to work because of the COVID-19 lockdown.

May the Lord bless you for the good works you are doing.

Kudakwashe Chakavharika (Guardian):
The food hampers that were given to Kudakwashe were not only a relief to her alone, but to us as a family. There is so much joy as a result of your generosity. Having been locked indoors because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it became very difficult to put food on the table. The hampers came at the right time, covering up our miseries. They really lessened the burden from our shoulders. Just like the good Samaritan, you saved not only one life, but the entire family.

We are thankful for your generous giving. May God richly bless you.

Tinevimbo Kuyeri (Parent):
It has been a season where my family and I feel like a part of a bigger family that has been blessed with food hampers. As a family, we felt very, very humbled and honoured and that brought joy and happiness to us. We really appreciate it and may our Father in Heaven bless all the people and all the hands that are being used in this great work.

Audrey Mariana (Parent):
When things were hard for me for me and my family, when we were struggling to put a meal on the table, that is when you came in. Thank you so much—I appreciate everything you are doing for my family.

From the Outreach Team:
They have visited homes where they have found caregivers not in good health therefore unable to fend for the families. The food hampers were a Godsend as they went a long way in making sure that there was food on the table for the family.

Some families were resorting to a single meal a day, so the food hampers were a welcome gesture. As parents were receiving food, comments like these were common:

“We were wondering how we were going to pull through this month.”

“I just did not know what I was going to feed my family with today.”

“May God bless Village of Hope for this kind move … we were wondering where our next meal was going to come from.”

“We thank God for making a way for us and for his provision, Kovanhu ava vativhira nekupi.”

That some parents and children were grateful would be an understatement.  

Photos courtesy Village of Hope Africa.