Homepage GFA World Inc newsroom

GFA World Extends COVID-19 Hunger Relief to Americans

Announcement posted by GFA World Inc 01 Sep 2020

GFA World helps battle hunger in Texas as pandemic cripples economy

TOOWOOMBA, QLD -- One of the world’s biggest poverty-alleviating organisations has started distributing food to families impacted by COVID-19 on its own doorstep in Texas.

 

GFA World, www.gfaau.org -- known for clean water projects and disaster relief in Asia’s poorest nations -- is helping distribute food to hundreds of families living near its international headquarters in Texas, one of America’s coronavirus hotspotsvcsPRAsset_3621317_182855_7b78196a-0bd5-

 

GFA World is teaming up with non-profit group Body of Life to carry out food giveaways at its campus in Wills Point, 80 kilometres east of Dallas.

 

At the most recent drive-thru event, volunteers -- including the city’s mayor -- handed out more than 1,200 USDA “Farmer to Families” food boxes containing fresh produce and other food items to local families, many left jobless by business closures.

 

“When families come in, their heads are down,” said Louie Alexander, a spokesperson for Body of Life. “But by the time they leave, there are smiles on their faces.”

 

The organisations plan to stage local food distributions every month for the foreseeable future. They’ve also handed out food packages at local apartment complexes.

 

Many Texans are teetering on the edge of hunger, struggling with job layoffs and reduced work hours as the coronavirus continues to cripple the economy.

 

According to Feeding Texas, the state’s biggest hunger relief network, one in every seven Texans is “food insecure” -- or doesn’t have enough to eat. That number could increase rapidly due to COVID-19. Nationwide, nearly half of America’s families are at risk of going hungry because of the coronavirus, says hunger relief organisation No Kid Hungry.

 

‘Hunger Is No Respecter of Countries’

“COVID-19 has shown us that hunger is no respecter of countries,” said Bishop Danny Yohannan, vice president of GFA World, recognised for its feeding programs and community aid projects across Asia.

 

“With so many going hungry, it’s a privilege for us to help our neighbours in Texas as an expression of God’s love during this critical time in our nation when many are losing hope because of the pandemic,” Yohannan said.

 

Locals have been impressed by the compassion of GFA World -- one of the largest faith-based organisations in the world -- to help those in need right in its own backyard.

 

“It’s an absolute blessing,” said Wills Point Mayor Mark Turner. “The need exceeds city limits and county lines. So many across Texas and America are dealing with hunger.”

 

“It’s very important to help everyone, to keep strong,” said a Wills Point resident, whose husband lost his job because of the pandemic.

 

GFA World is also helping to feed coronavirus-affected families in distress on the other side of the world, including migrant families in Asia forced out of work by COVID-19 and now on the edge of starvation.

 

“While we’ve been able to distribute food here in Texas, thousands of our parishes in Asia are distributing food to tens of thousands of families each month,” Yohannan said. “We are grateful to be God’s hands and feet all around the world.”

 

###

 

GFA World, www.gfa.org is a leading faith-based mission agency, helping national workers bring vital assistance and spiritual hope to millions across Asia, especially to those who have yet to hear about the love of God. In GFA’s latest yearly report, this included more than 70,000 sponsored children, free medical camps conducted in more than 1,200 villages and remote communities, over 4,800 clean water wells drilled, over 12,000 water filters installed, income-generating Christmas gifts for more than 260,000 needy families, and spiritual teaching available in 110 languages in 14 nations through radio ministry. For all the latest news, visit our Press Room at https://press.gfa.org/news.

 

cf45d5fcfdee1d782b8ea853d44e1a92ae94a8a2