In Albania, Food and Medicine for the Poor

Dear friends, 

As the weather begins to turn cooler in the remote hill villages around Pogradec, Albania, the humanitarian team at NG's clinic has started another round of aid deliveries to the people who live there. Our aid deliveries are essential to these villagers. In the years since the fall of the Albanian communist regime, many Albanians have left for the improved employment opportunities in towns and cities. Those who remain, usually because of their circumstances, see infrastructure-- roads, post offices, schools-- deteriorating and closing, leaving them isolated and living in poverty.

Nehemiah Gateway Albania's humanitarian team brings bundles of food staples, cleaning supplies, and donated clothing to about 150 households in the villages several times a year. The roads get worse every year, and delivering bundles of aid is a multi-day proposition requiring skilled driving and navigation. 

The story of the villages varies little from year to year, and the needs remain. We are happy to help them-- and grateful that, in contributing to this project, you have helped them too. 

With gratitude,

Sarah Pita

Development Director, NG USA

PS Note that, in addition to bringing aid to the villages, In Albania, Food and Medicine for the Poor helps many people in Pogradec who are living in poverty. In 2020, many people with health conditions face huge challenges to taking care of themselves. Your continued support is helping them as well. 

Dear friends--

When Albania went into a nationwide lockdown in early March, Nehemiah Gateway worked with donors, GlobalGiving, and the City of Pogradec to expand the reach of its longstanding aid delivery program. The people we normally help--people who are old and alone, struggling with chronic health conditions, or trapped in a cycle of poverty-- continued needing aid. Many Albanians who live from day to day found themselves needing help as well, as their precarious livelihoods were put on hold by the lockdown. During March and April of 2020, Nehemiah Gateway delivered over 1000 aid parcels to people in need in Pogradec and Gjirokastër. 

At present, lockdowns in Albania have been substantially lifted. Nonetheless, the In Albania, Food and Medicine for the Poor program continues providing basic aid deliveries to society's most vulnerable-- and will continue doing so as long as aid is needed. This support saves lives-- especially in the era of COVID-19. By safely delivering necessities to people with chronic health conditions, we are helping them limit their exposure to other people, and thus their risk of infection.

With cases of COVID-19 increasing in Albania, it will become increasingly important to help vulnerable people stay home. And, if another lockdown occurs, In Albania, Food and Medicine for the Poor will be prepared to step up again to help the communities it serves. 

We are grateful for your support of this progam. 

Be well,

Sarah Pita