Help and Hope

Assembling meal packs

More than meals

Rhoda picking up meals

Even though we have recently received news regarding the lessening of the COVID-19 virus, the needs of the most vulnerable are far from over.

Rhoda’s family came to St. Louis in 2015-16 via Georgia as refugees from the Congo (DRC). Presently, both parents work at SLU hospital in entry-level jobs to support their eight kids. As changes were put in place to respond to the virus crisis, they were thankful they still had jobs. Recently, however, they were informed their work hours had been cut in half. What had once been a barely manageable challenge regarding family groceries had suddenly become a near impossibility.

To date, your gifts have provided help and hope for over 70 New American families with members who have been laid off from work or have had work hours reduced. Apart from setting up a COVID-19 Assistance Fund to support hurting families, CFNA is partnering with UMTULISHA Food Ministry (Restore St. Louis) to provide meals to refugee families with children 18 years of age and under. The first delivery was made on Tuesday, March 24 when 57 meals were given to 12 families. This effort has since expanded to 150 meals delivered three days a week to 30 families.

“You're all are very nice… even when people are afraid, you do a lot to help us,” observed Rhoda as she received eight meals for her family on that first Tuesday. “This is what Jesus did for us, “(Mark 10:45 ff.)…” and who knows, maybe one day you will serve us when we have a need,” was my reply as Rhoda nodded in approval.

As we seek our Lord’s intervention in this crisis and seek His Kingdom (Mt. 6:33), our sincere thanks goes to each of you for blessing refugee families and their children with these meals.

If you would like to donate, click the button below or send a check to CFNA at 4019 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63118 with “Help and Hope” on the memo line. Thank you.

By Rev. Stanish Stanley Executive Director, CFNA, St. Louis