SILVER SPRING, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), the global humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, will provide food and medical supplies worth $2.4 million to expand relief to families and essential workers in the U.S. who are impacted by and responding to the COVID-19 crisis.
The expanded relief is in partnership with Adventist Community Services (ACS), the official community outreach ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist church in North America.
"Keeping families healthy and healthcare workers safe has never been more critical than now. This is why ADRA is proud to partner with the Adventist Church in the U.S. and ACS to ensure that we serve children, families and essential workers during this health crisis,” ADRA’s President Michael Kruger says.
"Working together to tackle challenges during this pandemic speaks volumes for Christians and all humanity,” says Dan Jackson, president of the North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. “I want to especially thank ADRA and its partners for this significant gift to provide such critical assistance.”
Partners include Globus Relief, American Logistics Aid Network, Airlink, and others. Their support has made it possible for ADRA to secure and ship critical supplies to hard-hit regions in the United States, where ACS is mobilized to receive and distribute the supplies to those most in need.
Where the Assistance Will Go
- Food pantries. Thousands of families across the U.S. will receive food parcels at designated Adventist Church food pantries. ADRA has committed $150,000 to be allocated by ACS over the next three months.
- Medical supplies. Medical supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) worth $2.3 million will be distributed by ACS where demand is high, including Alaska, Maryland, New York, Southern California and Texas. Each region will receive up to 20 pallets of supplies.
"The support of ADRA has been much appreciated. As a unified team, ADRA and ACS, together we are strong,” says Sung Kwon, ACS executive director.
ADRA’s COVID-19 Global Response
ADRA has been responding globally in over 70 countries, including the U.S., to help more than 2.7 million families and communities heavily impacted by the novel coronavirus health crisis. ADRA’s response teams are providing a range of humanitarian assistance that varies from country to country. This includes the distribution of hand sanitizers, food kits, cash vouchers, face masks, as well as hygiene training.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented need around the world, more than 38 million people have been left unemployed in the US alone, and many food banks in the nation are seeing a rise in food shortages.
ADRA continues to be on the frontline providing continuous relief aid to countries worldwide. To help with ADRA’s ongoing emergency response in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, visit ADRA.org/covidresponse.
About ADRA
The Adventist Development and Relief Agency is the international humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church serving in 118 countries. Its work empowers communities and changes lives around the globe by providing sustainable community development and disaster relief. ADRA’s purpose is to serve humanity so all may live as God intended. For more information, visit ADRA.org.
About Adventist Community Services
Adventist Community Services is the official community outreach ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist church in the North American Division territories which comprises of North America, Guam and Micronesia, and Bermuda. ACS serves the whole person, a concept known as holistic ministry whose mission is to “serve communities in Christ’s name.”
