Right now, preventing exploitation means making sure there is food accessible for vulnerable families experiencing food insecurity due to COVID-19. $90 provides one family living in the East Java Cemetery with a care package of food and basic necessities for one month.
The fragile economy of the cemetery community we serve in East Java is suffering. Motorbike taxi service, grave maintenance, and other respectable opportunities for income have decreased by 50 percent. Daily necessities are a struggle for some families to afford. Within the community, there are four districts with an estimated 130 families per district totaling over 520 families. We are estimating 77% of families per district are in desperate need of food and basic necessities.
Compassion First is engaging a temporary food program to secure food for families during this ongoing crisis. All food distribution will be case-managed and temporary with a secondary focus toward economic opportunity as restrictions are lifted. All community development staff members will be assigned to this project for the duration of this crisis as well as assigned assistance from other operations.
By meeting immediate needs and preventing exploitation due to the added economic strains COVID-19 has presented, our staff will work to build trust and strengthen relationships with 500+ vulnerable families who will have the opportunity to engage in our economic empowerment programs and mentorship post-crisis. The cooperative business model has provided women and teens with economic opportunities that result in the long-term enhanced wellbeing of themselves and their families.
