TAMIL NADU, INDIA — As their nation remained under lockdown, Gospel for Asia (GFA) Bridge of Hope centers in India couldn’t hold the classes and activities they normally would. However, they continued to bring much-needed help to students’ families and other members of their communities struggling for survival.

With the approval of government authorities, Bridge of Hope staff members gave face masks, bags of groceries, and warm meals to those in need.

In Tamil Nadu, one Bridge of Hope center gave meal packets to 60 widows, and another center distributed food and reusable face masks to daily wage laborers, farmers, and parents of Bridge of Hope students.

“I am thankful to the church for helping me to get food as well as a face mask,” said one recipient. “I am a farmer, and I need to go for work daily. I did not have a face mask; now I got [one].”

Gospel for Asia (GFA) Bridge of Hope staff members in Bihar served vegetable curry, lentils, and rice to 120 people in a village where people live in poverty, struggling to earn a living as daily wage laborers. Most children in this village attend the Bridge of Hope center.

In Madhya Pradesh, a Bridge of Hope center hosted an event to bless 24 families with groceries.

“The days are difficult for us as we collect wheat from the field for our survival nowadays,” shared one woman. “I want to thank you for providing me the rice and [legumes].”

Another recipient, a man who works as a daily wage laborer, shared,

“We are not able to go for our work and are struggling to feed our family. But I thank God for helping us through people like you. I am truly happy today.”

Read more news on Disaster Relief, Gospel for Asia, and the COVID 19 Pandemic.