Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association relief news update from Brazil. As heavy rains in August caused severe floods across Rio Grande do Sul state in southern Brazil, about 3,000 people were rendered homeless.
Conveying her love and sorrowful prayers, Supreme Master Ching Hai had donated US$15,000 and asked our Association members to please render assistance to those most in need.
This amount could acquire US$65,000 in goods if purchased in the United States, based on Brazil’s cost of living. Covering their own travel expenses of about US$2,100, our Association's relief team from Brazil was joined by team members from Paraguay. Together, they delivered a total of 700 food packages to people in the most affected cities of São Sebastião do Caí and Montenegro, with the help of officials and local relief workers.
Traveling on to the state of São Paulo, the team brought some necessities to the municipality of Eldorado, which had also been hard-hit by the rains. Over 240 food packages were delivered to families, many of whom had lost not only their homes but their farming livelihoods.
The supplies included rice, beans, soy milk, and soy protein. SOS flyers were also distributed to help inform the residents about the veg solution to climate change and disasters, with candies that delighted the children.
Relief recipient 1 (F): I got flooded twice this year, and I really appreciate this basket that you are giving, because that thing is something that we often could not get.
Relief recipient 2 (F): This is a very beautiful thing that was done for us.
Relief recipient 3 (F): We thank you for your help.
VOICE: With appreciation for the help of the local officials, we join in gratefulness to Supreme Master Ching Hai for her loving aid, and our Association’s relief team for their caring service.
Our prayers for the continued recovery of the storm-affected Brazilian people and for such distressful events to subside through our kinder treatment of the planet.
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