As soon as the lock-down extension was announced, we received more requests for help than ever! We’ve been busy packing and delivering aid parcels of food and goods essentials to desperate families, as well as making masks for the nurses at a local clinic and others who badly need them. The dear nurses and doctors put their own lives on the line to help so many, and we are proud to assist in their personal health and safety. And certainly, the parcels are received with enormous gratefulness – without them, many of these families would severely struggle to make it through lockdown.

We are continuing our collection and distribution of fresh foods and goods during lockdown – while observing all possible practices for hygiene and social distancing for the protection of ourselves and others. To date since lockdown began we have distributed over 3700kg of fresh food – meat, dairy, fruits, vegetables, and bread, plus staples like rice, flour, sugar, tins, tissue paper, and more! Truly we can see the need now more than ever, and we are grateful to be able to assist hundreds of children and families during this time – through bigger centres and soup kitchens as well as individual family food parcels. The pastor in charge of a large soup kitchen that we bring food to almost every day came to thank us the other day as we unloaded, saying: “There have been times I am almost forced to divide a bread roll between two children, just so everyone can have something. Also, much of our food supplies have stopped due to lockdown, so what you bring keeps us going and gives so, so many their daily food!” Pastor Nanda Thank you to each and every one of you that make this work possible – showing His Love during Lockdown.

(Message from Jesus) Today we celebrate victory, triumph, and overcoming. So think about the good things I have brought your way. Think on the good, the positive. It’s a day to forget any sorrow or pain or discouragement, and to focus on the joyful and the victorious.
Remember the great love I have for you-the love that led Me to give My life for you, and the love that gave Me the power to rise up in new life, also for you.

It is quite amazing that on the day that Jesus was crucified, the Passover lamb was being sacrificed in the Jewish Temple. Sacrificial Passover lambs needed to be “without blemish” (Exodus 12:5). Christians believe that Jesus was without sin, and His death purchased forgiveness of sin and salvation for all who will accept Him as their Saviour. Upon seeing Jesus, John the Baptist said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29 NKJ). And His death was not the end, oh no! It was only the beginning.

We heard about a care centre that was short on food supplies, especially for the dear dedicated nurses working there, who were placed on lockdown inside the centre, and didn’t have enough to get by. So, we put together and delivered a parcel of staples, just for them! God bless all the doctors and nurses caring for others around the world!

We started by washing and sanitizing everyone’s hands. Each of the 127 parcels distributed contained fresh food – onions, plums, mielies, bread, green beans, cauliflower, tomatoes, and a jar of meat! Then we added a roll of tissue paper and an inspirational Activated magazine.

On Thursday, mere hours before the 21 day lock-down started, we packed and distributed large food parcels for over a dozen vulnerable families who otherwise would suffer greatly from lack of basic needs. The last parcels were delivered just three hours before lockdown began! We’re grateful to be able to help them make it through these tough times a little smoother.

For those not yet aware; we at Helping Hand have permission to continue our food pickups and distribution as part of essential services – as you know, many children, centres, and families depend on us. What we are not able to engage in now is fundraising and face-to-face outreaches, thus we are increasing methods of ministering digitally and long distance for now, and trusting God for the finances we need to continue operating.