As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads, local Nazarene churches and districts are responding with compassion and care. Lockdowns and quarantine restrictions have left many unable to work or attend school. In the Philippines, Nazarene churches and child development centers are creatively serving their communities in the midst of a strict lockdown.

At one church, volunteers have already prepared and distributed almost 300 food and hygiene packs of rice, eggs, vegetables, soap, bleach, and sanitizer to community members in need.

They’ve also packed kits for pastors and their families, produced and donated 3D-printed face shields to front line medical workers, and are providing food for local law enforcement members.

Children in are writing letters and cards of encouragement to send to medical workers and COVID-19 patients in local hospitals, and church members are praying for and with the recipients of donations.

Child development centers across the Philippines typically provide educational, spiritual, nutritional, and social care to children. The lockdown means children are currently unable to attend, and many of their parents are out of work. Center staff and church members have a mutli-faceted approach for reaching out to these students and their families.

Through cash distributions, families can purchase the food or supplies their household needs most. Distributions of food and medical supplies are also helping families make ends meet. In partnership with the city agricultural office, the church is also supplying these families with seeds to help them grow their own food.

One mother remarks that, “This is an answer to what I was praying for. Since the first day of quarantine, we worried how we can get money for our food since we are many in our home. Thank you for giving us relief goods. This is a big help to our family.”

Photos by Ana Geronimo.