November 10, 2008 – Maturin, Venezuela…[Emilet Rosas/IAD Staff]
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Venezuela concluded its participation in Inter-America's Day of Kindness and Compassion on Nov. 1, benefitting nearly 60,000 in poor communities throughout the country.
The initiative began on Saturday Oct. 11 in the eastern region of the country. Thousands of volunteers, coordinated by the church and the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), donated funds and prepared and delivered boxed meals to needy neighborhoods. In addition, special food bags were distributed in various centers families could benefit.
The Adventist Clinic of Maturin joined the activity by opening its doors and offering medical, dental, pediatric, and ophthalmology services free of charge to the needy.
“We were able to see 110 patients from 8:00 a.m. until 6:30 p.m.,” said Anaximandra de Rubio, clinic administrator. “Thanks to donations we collected, we were able to distribute 50 food bags and 80 boxed meals.”
Other churches provided free vaccines in the San Rafael, El Nazareno, and Villa Heroica communities to some 80 children. Other communities were visited by a medical unit which provided dental checkups.
“The idea was to impact the society in which we live,” said Pastor Elder Rubio, communication director for the church in Maturin. “In addition, with the support of the army, volunteers were able to distribute some 700 food bags in the most needy neighborhoods in the city.”
Elsewhere in the country during the three saturdays that followed, thousands of church member volunteers participated in distributing dinners in community centers, churches, and parks, as well as correction facilities.
The month-long activities were covered throughout regional television and radio stations, as well as in newspapers.
The Day of Kindness and Compassion became a division-wide activity throughout the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Inter-America, organized by Youth Ministries and ADRA. The activity sought to promote acts of kindness and compassion to alleviate hunger.
Similar programs were held in community centers, parks, and neighborhoods in 14 countries throughout Inter-America in promoting awareness during the United Nations' World Hunger Day held Oct. 16 every year.
