November 9, 2008 – Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic…[Mariela Mejia/DOMU/IAD Staff]
Seventh-day Adventists throughout the Dominican Republic joined together to treat the poor in their communities to a special meal during Inter-America's Day of Kindness and Compassion last month, an event held last month which drew the attention of radio, television, and print media.
More than 80,000 gathered at some 700 community centers, restaurants, schools, prisons and rented banquet halls, said Silvestre Gonzalez, communication director and spokesperson for the church in the Dominican Republic.
“It was incredible to be part of this project,” said Gonzalez, who helped organize the event and was involved in the church's radio program held nation-wide on Oct. 11. “Our country has been totally touched by this initiative. No other church has ever impacted the poor in our country like this.”
Church members from the more than 1,000 churches on the island prepared meals and invited the poor in their communities for the special dinner. Some churches even rented tables, china, and white tablecloths to treat their fellow citizens with love and make them feel special, said Gonzalez.
“Church members opted to prepare dinners and musical programs to make the poor feel like they were royalty,” explained Gonzalez. “There are many in the Dominican Republic who go without eating, I have seen Dominicans eat only once a day, so this was a wonderful thing for those in need.”
Luis Diaz, a resident of La Cementera, a town west of Santo Domingo, was grateful to receive a warm meal.
“You want to buy the food yourself but if they give it to you, it's better because the situation is very difficult,” said Diaz.
“Church leaders and members are already talking about repeating the activity next year and reaching more people in poor communities,” said Gonzalez.
Inter-America's Day of Kindness and Compassion sought to promote benevolence toward the needy by alleviating their hunger and promoting awareness during the United Nations World Hunger Day, not only in the Dominican Republic, but throughout the Inter-American Division territory.
