Volunteers with the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians provide day of entertainment and nutritional support for more than 500 children

(MissionNewswire) Volunteers with the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians parish held a celebration for the children of many Salesian programs throughout Brazil. In Cuiabá, more than 500 children from poor neighborhoods on the outskirts of Mato Grosso received gifts, entertainment and a snack as part of the traditional service offered by Shrine of Mary Help of Christians. Parents received food baskets collected by parishioners.

Father Danilo Guedes, the parish coordinator, said, “We are enhancing and giving continuity to the assistance and support to families that the Shrine already offers, but we want to give a more continuous orientation.”

To make this initiative viable, the Shrine carried out a campaign to collect food, toys and financial resources among Catholics throughout the city.

Salesian missionaries in Brazil provide education, workforce development, and social services throughout the country and specifically focus on children with disabilities within several programs. Missionaries help to meet the basic needs of poor youth, including street children, and provide them with an education and life skills to gain employment, break the cycle of poverty, and lead productive lives.

According to the World Bank, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on Brazil with poverty tripling in 2021. Nearly 17 million people fell into poverty in the first quarter of the year and the poverty rate now is higher than it was a decade ago. Researchers estimate that 12.8 percent of Brazil’s population, some 27 million people, are now living below the poverty line.

###

Sources:

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

ANS – Brazil – “Projeto Valdocco” expands and strengthens its service to needy families in Cuiabà

Salesian Missions – Brazil

World Bank – Brazil