Salesians in Venezuela provide updates on needs

ARGENTINA

(MissionNewswire) Salesians around the globe have been raising funds to help support Salesians in Venezuela* in the wake of two devastating earthquakes that struck the country on June 24. Both Salesian provinces in Argentina launched a campaign to help named “Mission That Embraces” that took place in two phases.

Initially, an appeal was made to individual donors of the Salesian Mission Office in Argentina to make a special contribution to this campaign.

“Subsequently, a second phase was launched, involving an appeal to Salesian houses across the country to publicize the campaign and for all Salesian centers to unite as a network in the face of the suffering of our brothers and sisters in Venezuela,” explained Matías Piccoli, head of communications and digital marketing at the Salesian Mission Office in Argentina.

Thanks to the Salesian centers that joined in the campaign and shared the appeal through their own social media channels, WhatsApp, email and others educational platforms, it was possible to multiply the donations raised.

The funds raised will be transferred to the Salesian mission in Venezuela to fund the purchase of food, drinking water, medicines, and hygiene kits, as well as to provide psychosocial support and assistance. Throughout the campaign, Salesians in Venezuela provided updates on the needs there.

By the end of August, Salesians had assisted around 4,000 people. They distributed 508 food parcels, enough to cover the monthly needs of a family of four, the same number of hygiene kits, and over 4,000 liters (more than 1,000 gallons) of drinking water.

Venezuela is still in the midst of reconstruction, and families will gradually be able to rebuild their lives with the support of the Salesian Family. Meanwhile, the Salesian Mission Office in Argentina is calling for prayers for those who have died and for those who continue to face so many difficulties on a moral, spiritual, and material level.

Piccoli added, “We wish to thank all those who have been involved in this solidarity campaign including Father Julio Boffelli, provincial from the Argentina South Province and Father Manuel Cayo for Argentina North Province, communication delegates, Nicolás Mirabet and Romina Herrera, the rectors and staff of the Salesian center that responded to the appeal, and all those who have made a contribution to this humanitarian cause. Finally, we thank the Salesians, volunteers and professionals in Venezuela who are supporting families during this difficult time.”

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – Argentina – Report on the solidarity campaign for Venezuela organised by “Don Bosco Por Los Jóvenes”

Salesian Missions – Argentina

World Bank – Argentina