Venezuela churches begin food programs during national shortage
The Church of the Nazarene is responding across Venezuela, where food shortages have increased prices and made it difficult for many people to eat.
One church is preparing "Bags of Love" with food staples to distribute to the neediest families in the congregations and in the neighborhood. The church is also helping the neediest pastoral families with Bags of Love or offerings to purchase food.
Through a weekly program called Feeding Hope, the congregation at San Diego Church of the Nazarene providing a bowl of soup to people in the community.
“There are people who do not have food during the week, and the church is providing a bowl of soup so they can be fed," said Jimmy De Gouveia, pastor of the church.
The San Diego church is providing 600 bowls of soup per week through its main building and missions in Carrizales, Santa Teresa, and Caracas. The program began in late May and recently received funding from Nazarene Compassionate Ministries to continue for the next three months.
"Our church responds, locally, in the district, and globally," said Carlos Cordero, holistic ministries coordinator for Venezuela.