As a humanitarian charity, ADRA-UK has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to establish frameworks and protocols to assist church community hubs to address local needs.
This past week, ADRA-UK partnered with The Soho Sandwich Company to be able to support the neediest people in the Enfield area who have been affected by the fallout from COVID-19. A team of volunteers from the Edmonton Seventh-day Adventist church, utilising its own centre about half a mile from their worship space, led out in a feeding programme from last Sabbath and throughout the week.
Over the past seven days, they have fed and impacted the lives of over 1000 people in the borough and beyond. They have delivered sandwiches to key workers in Edmonton and Enfield, they have partnered with a local mosque in providing food for 98 people living on the streets, food was provided to 4 residential homes for children and also to the local Age-UK. The team were also able to partner with The Felix Project, the local Anglican Church as well as provide food for those in local homes in the community, the elderly and people living with HIV/Aids.
One of the key workers who received food last Sabbath stated, "I am a local paramedic and yesterday after a 12-hour shift, I was sent home with a bagful of goodies which I understand you were responsible for delivering to the ambulance station. I wanted to say a huge 'THANK YOU' to everyone involved in donating and delivering a beautiful selection of food to us; it was most appreciated, I had the most beautiful dinner last night, made entirely from the contents of the goody bag. You people are so kind and generous."
The One Vision Project at the Stanborough Park church is another community hub that has been working tirelessly in their community. By Tuesday of this past week, they have fed 620 people, including the elderly and key workers from Watford General Hospital. Their food was donated by the Prince of Bengal restaurant and packed by a local faith group. The One Vision Project regularly works alongside other partner organisations and with the MP for Watford and its elected Mayor.
A senior couple who received food from this feeding programme said, "We were really surprised and delighted at the care and concern in delivering food to us. Thank you!"
Bert Smit, CEO of ADRA-UK stated, "It is truly remarkable what just these two community hubs have achieved over the past week and we are doing everything that we can to support them under our I AM Urban initiative. The I AM Urban Core Team is working with the Community Services and Health Ministries Directors at both the British Union Conference and the Trans-European Division. Together these individuals form the ADRA-UK COVID-19 Response Taskforce (ACRT).
Many of the Seventh-day Adventist community hubs are closed down due to COVID-19, but we are aware that there are around 9 others who are operational, but from whom we have not yet received a report. During this time of crisis, the ACRT will lead in the humanitarian response, providing practical long-time sustainable solutions to this evolving crisis, creating opportunities and initiatives for meaningful involvement in a post-CV19 world, identifying funding streams to assist in long-term community development initiatives in the UK, while continuing to work with the world's most neediest people in developing countries'.
The 2020 ADRA Appeal starts on 28 March and will now run until 31 August. Funds raised from this appeal will not only assist our work overseas but will support the work of our community hubs in the UK. Please donate online at www.adra.org.uk.
