Page 25 - PC_Winter2020

presbyterian.ca
WINTER 2020
Connection
PRESBYTERIAN
25
PWS&D
Ride for
Refuge Raises
Nearly $30,000
Putting food on the table is even harder for vulnerable people
Hunger is a greater risk for those living in poverty, a conflict zone, or people who are elderly or living with a disability.
Women face a growing burden
The responsibility of caregiving for those who fall ill most often falls on women. With schools closed and children home it is harder to work, increasing the likelihood of hunger if there isn’t additional family support.
Millions depend on a daily wage
The inability to earn daily wages to buy food, combined with a lack of savings, quickly throws many into crisis.
Emergency food is more difficult to distribute
Food assistance programs are disrupted by restrictions on movement, transportation and group gatherings. 368 million children worldwide are no longer receiving a school meal because of school closures.
Farmers have trouble getting crops to market
With restrictions on movement, many farmers are unable to move any crop surpluses to sell at markets. Seeds, tools and other inputs are harder to get, and workers can’t or won’t travel to work.
People change what or when they eat
When money runs out, many choose to eat less often and feed their families cheaper food like maize or rice. These meals are less nutritious and put many at risk of malnutrition.
People sell equipment or assets to feed their families
As restrictions go on and people are unable to earn an income, have no savings or live in countries with no social safety net, many choose to sell valuable livestock or tools in order to eat. Recovery is harder and takes longer as a result.
PWS&D is responding to address food needs that are worsening due to the pandemic. Through partners at Canadian Foodgrains Bank and ACT Alliance, we are helping affected families get through this crisis.
Seven Ways COVID-19 is
Increasing Global Hunger The global pandemic is making it harder for people to feed their families
By Stephanie Chunoo, PWS&D Communications
Sixty-nine cyclists and walkers geared up in Regina, Victoria, Water- loo, London, Edmonton and Toronto on Saturday, Oct. 3, to participate in Ride for Refuge in support of PWS&D’s food security programs.
The Ride for Refuge is a nation- wide cycling and walking fundraiser that helps charities raise money for the displaced, vulnerable and perse- cuted. The Ride looked a little differ- ent this year as large groups were unable to gather due to COVID-19, but that didn’t stop anyone.
This year marked PWS&D’s fifth and most successful year participat- ing in Ride for Refuge. Nine teams cycled, walked and enjoyed other activities to raise almost $30,000— almost tripling our initial fundraising goal!
The moderator, the Rev. Amanda Currie and her “Walk with the Moder- ator” team, walked or rode five-4km loops and raised $4,140. “Through- out the walk day here in Regina, we live streamed PWS&D Mission Mo- ments from the gymnasium. Each one had a speaker sharing about an aspect of the ministry. It was a fun way to share with folks who had sponsored us and with others across the country who might become fu-
The “Walk with the Moderator” team in Regina, Saskatchewan.
ture supporters of PWS&D.”
Your incredible support means that
PWS&D can help farmers deal with climate change impacts, increase crop yields and improve nutrition value. Ensuring families have access to healthy, nutritious foods and the tools needed to grow them is incred- ibly vital right now, as the COVID-19 pandemic has put more and more people at risk for acute hunger.
Thank you to all who participated and donated in support of this year’s Ride for Refuge. See you next year!
For the second time the Hampton-Spencer family rode in Waterloo region, with hopes of doing it again next year!
Learn more at WeRespond.ca/covid-19
Adapted from Canadian Foodgrains Bank, with information from WFP and the United Nations.