Summary of Covid Care Kit Diary: Reaching out to the Neediest, Farthest and in Abundance

MSJ, Bangalore 09 June 2020

In our previous posts we were reporting what we have been doing everyday and whom we have been reaching out with our relief work. The work at MSJ Covid care kit relief is astonishing. We never imagined that we would reach such heights in serving our neighbourhood and migrant workers in our vicinity in such large numbers. The dedicated work of so many donors, volunteers and people of good will cannot be forgotten. What we did might seem to be a drop in the ocean. However in order to fill that ocean each drop of water is very important. We feel very happy and content that we could so much. 

We being a group of people committed to the faith taught by our Lord Jesus Christ, this sudden but enduring experience of being with those people who lost  themselves in this tragedy of Corona pandemic has given a new vigour to our life. We cannot say "No" to anyone when someone is need of our care, concern and timely help.

Fr Teyol Machado, SJ who coordinated "Mount St Joseph Covid Care Kit Relief Work" says the following. "Covid-19 Relief experience has been one of the memorable experiences that has brought in a lot of people together and connected all of us. It has been an experience of cross-sectional partnership that has worked wonders. People from every walks of life, from various experiences came, along with their resources and resourcefulness, towards a common goal of making sure that none went hungry in this time of this pandemic. The collaboration with COVID-19 Relief Bangalore has helped me to see how collaborative efforts can transform lives. This coming together has taught me that all of us can work miracles of multiplication of loaves and fish provided we love and care for each other."

Here are some of the figures:

Total amount spent on relief work: Rs 31,25,000/-

Number of Beneficiaries: 1,68,980

Vegetables bought from farmers: Rs 6,00,000/-

Number of dry ration kits provided: 33,796

Number of food packets distributed: 11,634

Number of counsellors involved: 10

Number of people sheltered: 28

Financial aid provided for families: Rs 20,000/-

Number of awareness programs conducted: 135

Number of face masks distributed: 6,000

Number of people involved in relief work: 172

Number of days spent in relief work: 53

Number of people received sanitisers: 6,000

Our relief work involvement was basically around Bannerghatta, Jigani and Anekal area. However, we generously helped in reaching out to the neediest and most vulnerable. So our care kit relief reached even to the farthest locations of our state of Karnataka like Harihar, Gulbarga, etc.  Where there is good will and sense of humanity prevails within us, we can do so much for the welfare of each person who lives on this planet. With the words of Bible, I would like to say with Jesus, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of Mine, you did for Me.’ (Matthew 25:40).
- Reported by Olvin Veigas, SJ

10 June 2020