Church members prepare meals to deliver to volunteers.
PHILIPSBURG--For more than three weeks, a group of Seventh-Day Adventists across St. Maarten have been serving more than 300 meals to volunteers who have been assisting the government in packing and distributing meals to seniors and other citizens who depend on the country’s social aid system.
Volunteers from churches throughout the island have been preparing the hot meals six days a week since April 5, as the island continues a nation-wide lockdown because of the coronavirus pandemic, reported the Adventist News Network.
“Because the country is on lockdown and under curfew, the government is still taking care of the seniors and challenged members of the community,” said Pastor Vashni Cuvalay, coordinator of the Adventist work on St. Maarten and main organiser of the church’s response.
Cuvalay said residents had been told that the Ministry of Social Services was assigned the responsibility to distribute food to those who were considered most vulnerable – those who were physically challenged, 65 years and older – who could not take care of themselves. “We wanted to support as a church to cook meals for these volunteers,” he added.
Armed with personal protective equipment, paper towels and hand sanitisers, the 20 volunteer church members have been eager to assist. They also assisted in donating a three-week supply of food to dozens of the most needy senior citizens.
There are currently more than 3,000 elderly citizens under the government’s care on the island. “We have committed [church-member – Ed.] volunteers who are excited to assist in continuing to serve,” added Cuvalay.
Leontine Joseph, one of the members preparing the hot meals, said she was happy to be part of a church that is helping to stop the spread of the virus by supporting those volunteers. “The opportunity to give back is appropriate, considering the public’s concern about the pandemic,” said Joseph.
The church’s response team includes its Community Services department which is widely-known for providing care and relief to neighbourhoods grappling with social ills and disasters. “It’s the reputation of the church and its involvement that is the reason for the partnership,” explained Cuvalay.
“In St. Maarten, the leaders are using the opportunity to be the hands of God and deliver capable ministry to the community,” said Pastor Desmond James, president of the church in the North Caribbean Conference, which oversees the church in St. Maarten and nine other islands. Pastor James invited all leaders and members to unleash ministries of compassion within churches and communities.
“Seek out those in need, help the downtrodden, provide for the aged and challenged, comfort the bereaved, and give hope to the distressed, disturbed and hopeless,” James said.
North Caribbean Conference leaders said the church’s response in St. Maarten is only the first of a comprehensive ministry of compassion which is planned to be launched across the islands when restrictions are eased. Those initiatives include psychological support that will address psychosocial needs and health needs of the membership as well as provide support to congregations who plan to take care of the physical needs of members and community friends.
