Feed 1,800 orphaned children in rural Kenya.

Corona Virus is skyrocketing in Kenya. There have been 13,353 confirmed cases and over 200 deaths. Although Kenya has some testing, there isn’t enough and it’s only in Nairobi, which is hard to get to from Makindu, and would require being in a car with other people. The corona virus has impacted the Makindu Children’s Centre drastically. Luckily, we have been able to send over some masks. The centre is closed. This means that the kids and families are unable to visit the centre as social distancing is crucial to prevent the spread of this virus, especially since so many of the people we care for are immune compromised from HIV/AIDS. To keep the kids and families healthy, we need twice the amount of food than before. Now that we are delivering the food to people’s houses, we are forced to spend more money on food and resources to get the food to them. We need as much assistance as possible at this time because we aren’t sure how long the social distancing will last and the virus will be around. Until then, please keep the Makindu Children’s Center in mind as they are in an unforgiving climate that makes growing food and keeping livestock difficult. Thank you for your support. Asante for giving HOPE to the kids.

The Corona virus has arrived in Kenya. International borders are now closed. Schools too are now closed. Gatherings of 50 or more people are prohibited. Therefore Makindu Children's Center is now closed. All of this directly impacts how program services, especially feeding the children, can be delivered to the 570 kids we serve.

We must feed the children. Providing proper nutrition is critical for our extremely vulnerable population. So instead of daily feedings at the Children's Center for the 200+ children who visit regularly, we will distribute a months worth of groceries to all 310 households. With an average household size of 5, this aid will reach around 1,550 needy hungry people. This will also help ensure that these 1,550 people will be able to remain socially distant from others in the community, to help flatten the curve of COVID 19 infection rate. Distribution will take place with a staggered schedule, ensuring we stay under 50 people present at all times. Soap and water handwashing stations will be set up and monitored at the entries, to help slow the spread of any virus. 

Food included in this emergency relief package is maize, beans, rice, cooking oil, cowpeas (for the HIV infected, for added protein), and salt. Vegetables grown on campus are also being delivered to HIV infected households.

This round of support, the month's worth of groceries, will cost $50 per household. Thank you for your continuing support of these children. You are making a HUGE impact in the health and wellness of these innocent orphaned children.

Good nutrition is key to good health, but difficult to access for the vulnerable populations. The drought has been rampant in this region for well over a decade and famine has persisted. Crops are difficult to grow without adequate water supply, and children often go hungry. Over half of the MCC kids live too far away from the Center to access the daily meals served there and so rely on supplemental bulk food provided to cook at home for proper nutrition. Sometimes this just isn’t enough for adequate nutrition.  We need help being able to provide for the children so they can be strong and healthy enough to get out of the poverty cycle their families are a part of. Asante for all your help.