As reported by Rick Stoner (Addis Alem ‘68-’70; Training ‘72-’75) and Elizabeth Ambaye on May 17, 2020
The lockdown has exacerbated the food situation for the chronically malnourished and poor in Ethiopia. The Medhane Alem neighborhood in Debrichi Kebele, Adwa where we work is no exception. This past week Elsa and I decided we needed to do something to help. Working from afar via the internet with our neighbors and projects champion we set up an emergency food bank for monthly distribution to 30 families in our neighborhood for the next six months (through to harvest). We can see their faces, know some by name and are always respectfully greeted. Their lives are hard as you well know. Where we work and live when in Adwa is one of the poorest, if not the poorest, neighborhoods.
We’re delighted we can help. We have given $6,000 for the six-month effort—money we normally would have spent on our project. The local kebele/church social affairs committee put together the list of those in most need and our close neighbor and friend vetted the list with some of her local women leaders. Together they will purchase and make the distributions.
The first distribution (month of May) was made today (5/16/20) and went well—50 kgs of corn, 2 liters of cooking oil, 3 bars of soap, 1 liter of liquid soap, 1 mask, 1 pair of gloves. Cost—about 1,000 Birr (about $30) per family. Cost will probably rise as we move through the rainy/planting season.
Many more families need help. We are now trying to raise money to double from 30 to 60 the number of families receiving help. Budget is $30 per family for one month and $180 for six months. So far, we’ve raised $2,300 toward the $6,000 needed to feed an additional 30 families for six months.
We’re not an NGO so donations are not charitable tax deductions. However, it is an all-volunteer effort with all donations going directly to purchase food for the monthly food bank distribution. Hopefully, we’ll get some more donations and meet our goal. We’ll see.
I presume the situation is not dissimilar in the towns and villages where most RPCVs served. We’re just lucky to have the connections and means to quickly organize and make a difference.
We can accept donations through Zelle using my email address ([email protected]) or by personal check—contact me by email for personal address or further information.
May 26, 2020 update: We reached an additional 20 families on May 26th with our food distribution/coronavirus package: 50 kg corn, 2 liters cooking oil, 3 bars of soap, 1 liter liquid soap, 1 mask and a pair of gloves. Supplies were purchased in the town by our five-person volunteer committee who, along with our donors, are the key to making the food distribution possible.
We now have 50 families in the program that we plan to sustain through the rainy season until harvest in October. Next monthly distribution will be in mid-June. If we have more fundraising success, we will add more families to the program.
Thank you so much for your contributions. They are much appreciated in Adwa.