WORLDWIDE – All over the world, families are feeling the weight of inflation. They’re finding it harder to keep food on the table and fight hunger. It’s becoming more and more difficult to stay afloat when expenses like gas, diapers, and medical bills seem to overtake the budget. And with supply chain issues still affecting stores worldwide, grocery prices are soaring as well. For many families, it can feel impossible to stay afloat.
Partner With Us to Fight Hunger and Food Insecurity
But Operation Blessing friends like you are tackling this problem every day! Your loving support is fighting hunger and food insecurity all over the world. Whether it’s supplying food to Ukrainian refugees in Poland, providing a garden for a family in Mexico, conducting a poultry project in Kenya, empowering a small business in Peru, or placing food directly into the hands of the hurting, unemployed, elderly, or disaster-stricken right here in the U.S., you are fighting hunger.
Here at Operation Blessing, we’ve seen firsthand just how much of a difference we can make by rallying together behind our neighbors in need. Every gift, no matter how small, makes a difference! Will you give to bless the hungry, hurting, and desperate today?
Together, we can help families stay afloat by providing food for the hungry, water for the thirsty, medicine for the sick, and relief for those affected by disaster! Click here to make your gift today.
UKRAINE – Meanwhile, in far-off Eastern Europe, your heart to help in Ukraine has also come through for victims of war and displaced families like Yana’s. Yana was working in her garden in Kherson when her daughter came running and pointing in horror. About 20 Russian soldiers had broken into their home like thieves.
“In an instant, my house was filled with chaos, terror, and a huge number of evil soldiers,” Yana said. They were looking for her husband, who served in the Ukrainian armed forces. Taking them into separate rooms, the soldiers interrogated Yana, her 14-year-old daughter, and even her 4-year-old son!
When Yana tried to stand up to protect her children, the soldiers threatened her life, but she didn’t retreat. “What kind of soldier are you after attacking a woman with children with your machine gun?” she challenged. “Where is your honor as an officer?” To her shock, the soldiers backed down.
She could only credit a miracle of God for her family’s safety. Yana and her children immediately fled their hometown.
Help In Ukraine After A Terrifying Ordeal
After an equally terrifying and dangerous journey, they finally arrived at the Lviv Theological Seminary in the eastern part of the country where they took refuge. There, they were received as family and given all the food and supplies they needed to survive because of your heart to help the hurting.
“Without this vital support we would not be able to provide for ourselves and would be destitute like many unfortunate refugees,” Yana said gratefully with tears in her eyes. “It is very important to have a washing machine, a hair dryer, a blender, and a coffee maker at hand. It really comforts a little and gives a minimal feeling of home and helps us to hope for the best.”
HONDURAS – The day baby Luis was born, his mother saw his clubfoot condition and feared he might never walk.
A single mother and seamstress, she spent the last of her savings to take Luis to a specialist. When she learned the cost of the surgery, she realized there was no way she could afford it.
But that’s when friends like you stepped up to help! Because of the generosity of friends like you, Operation Blessing took care of the complete treatment and minor surgery for baby Luis and his clubfoot condition.
Just three months later, we found Luis well on his way to complete recovery. When the time comes, baby Luis will be walking as he should.
When you partner with Operation Blessing, you change lives.
FLORIDA – Thanks to you, Operation Blessing is on the ground providing disaster relief in hard–hit communities around Port Charlotte, Florida after Hurricane Ian.
Nelida said, “I’ve been through three hurricanes, and this one has really taken a toll on us.”
In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, residents like Nelida are still reeling from the extensive damage to their property and are in need of disaster relief in Port Charlotte. That’s where you came in!
“When you see the devastation around you, it really grips you. It grips you really hard.” She continued, “We saw the chaos of all the trees all over the place, and my first thought was, how are we going to clean this up? And how long would it take us to clean it? But look now that Operation Blessing has come to help us out.”
You Are Providing Disaster Relief To Port Charlotte for Hurricane Ian Victims
Because you care, Operation Blessing disaster relief teams visited dozens of homes like Nelida’s to help people take their first steps toward recovery. For her, we removed trees and debris and tarped damaged parts of her roof.
Nelida said, “They come out here and stay for hours and hours, cleaning up and helping and encouraging us along the way and praying with us. I can only say thank you. There are no words for the gratitude that we feel for them, to come out here and do this for us.”
Thanks to your loving support, relief teams are equipped and ready to help whenever disaster strikes.
Nelida said, “We’re truly, truly grateful for what they do around the world, not only here and when there’s disasters, but the things that they do for others, the many others. And being a part of that, I think, is amazing. And we’re grateful.”
INDIA – As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him (Psalm 103:13). When your child hurts, you hurt. And God’s heart goes out to every suffering child around the world—including a precious 5-year-old girl in India named Sakshi. Sakshi’s parents discovered the deformity in her left shoulder and spine when she was just a year old, and she’s struggled with it ever since. Doctors said if Sakshi wasn’t operated on at this young age, she’d be partially disabled for life. Her parents desperately needed help in India for their little girl.
Her condition made it impossible for Sakshi to lift her arms above her head or move her left arm without pain. It broke her parents’ hearts to see her cry, but they couldn’t afford the costly surgery needed to heal her condition.
Help In India For Sakshi
Because of her shoulder, she was bullied at school so badly that her parents let her stay home. Mostly, Sakshi spent her days inside with her mother. Although she was now 5 years old, her mother still had to help with basic activities like bathing and putting on clothes. She would say, “Mommy, please make my arm better.” Her mother said, “Our hearts break for her, but we don’t know what to do.” Her family wanted so much more for her! They just needed a miracle.
And by God’s grace, friends like you delivered. Just look at her now! Little Sakshi stands straight and tall and pain-free. She’ll continue growing stronger with physical therapy, and she can look forward to even better days ahead. Her father is overwhelmed with gratitude. “Sakshi has relief! Her posture is also corrected. We are very thankful for all the services we received from the generous support of Operation Blessing. My daughter’s life is better!”
PHILIPPINES – Super Typhoon Noru, the strongest storm to strike the Philippines this year, has left a path of destruction in its wake. Many residents of remote areas have lost their homes and livelihoods. These areas do not often receive aid in times of disaster. In the central Philippines, the remote island communities have reportedly lost 70% of their homes. Now the residents look to Operation Blessing to provide urgent supplies following the devastating storm.
Typhoon Noru Victims Receive Critical Support
One victim, a woman named Josephina, recalled watching her house collapse before her eyes. “Our house was slowly leaning on one side,” she said. “The wind lifted it, and then it dropped until our house collapsed.” But thanks to your support, a team of brave Operation Blessing staff traveled 3 hours in stormy conditions to reach these remote areas! Josephina and her neighbors received critical aid in their time of need. Operation Blessing staff arrived to distribute desperately-needed food, supplies, and solar lamps to light up the dark night. Josephina said, “Thank you so much! You gave us plenty of food that will last for several days.”
To help Typhoon Noru victims of disaster like Josephina in the Philippines, visit ob.org/disaster.
FLORIDA – Volunteers have joined Operation Blessing’s disaster relief efforts after catastrophic category 4 Hurricane Ian swept through coastal Florida. Calvary Assembly of God Church in Port Charlotte, Florida serves as a base of operations, housing equipment and supplies volunteers will need. We sent out one team of Ian volunteers to do chainsaw work and another to do roof tarping.
Ian Volunteers Are Making a Difference in Port Charlotte
Ian volunteers are coming back with amazing stories of how God has used them in this volunteer experience to help struggling communities. Team Leader Brianna Shpak shared how much of a blessing it was to serve with Operation Blessing in this capacity. “I mean, seeing it on TV is one thing, but when you’re here in person and you see the houses that are ruined and the gates that are ruined in front of people’s houses, and you can feel that everyone’s spirit is kind of down [it’s a world of difference],” she said.
Though it was her first time serving in disaster relief, Brianna said she would gladly serve with Operation Blessing again, and she encouraged others to do the same. She said, “It’s so amazing just to see how the neighbors reacted to us even coming out here. I’ve just loved being a part of this whole thing that we’re doing right now.”
We hope that you’ll join us too, because the need is still great, and we need volunteers like you. The support of partners and volunteers fuels the Operation Blessing mission to demonstrate God’s love by alleviating human need and suffering in the United States and around the world.
To volunteer with Operation Blessing as a disaster relief worker in Florida, visit ob.org/volunteer. You could be the difference for someone who is hurting and in need of a helping hand.
UKRAINE – Civilians are bearing the brunt of Russia’s assault on Ukraine. Millions have fled to neighboring nations for safety. In Poland, Operation Blessing is helping care for these refugees. Despite the length of the conflict and the reality of constant danger in this unstable region, support continues for Ukrainian refugees.
“It’s really depressing being separated from loved ones and leaving my house and all our livelihoods in Ukraine. That is where I spent all my life until now. I never imagined that this war with Russia could happen,” said Ukraine refugee, Sergei.
Sergei is among 3,000 refugees staying at the PTAK Center, one of the largest refugee shelters in Poland. The needs there are enormous, so they reached out to us for help.
As War Still Rages Support Continues for Ukrainian Refugees
Operation Blessing quickly responded to the request, sending truckloads of food, hygiene kits, and cleaning materials to the shelter. We also help other refugee centers in Poland where supplies are running low.
Thanks to the generous gifts of friends like you, Operation Blessing has come here just in time to replenish empty shelves with food, cleaning materials, and hygiene supplies to be distributed to hundreds of families who come there every day to get whatever they need.
Ben Edwards, Vice President of CBN International said, “This war is still happening. People are still suffering every day, and it’s just a blessing for us to be the hands and feet of Christ in a situation like this.”
FLORIDA – Disaster relief arrives after Hurricane Ian as Operation Blessing goes to Linda Piper’s house in Port Charlotte, Florida. Thanks to the love of friends like you, they arrived to remove debris from fallen trees as well as destroyed furniture. With your support, volunteers also helped lay down tarp where the roof was blown off by the hurricane.
Linda recounted her harrowing experience in the storm. “This hurricane is different from other hurricanes. It just wasn’t going to stop. I have a tiny bathroom, and I had to prep the bathroom with comforters, pillows, the dog bed, anything I can think of for comfort and protection.” She continued, “I could hear rain and wind and everything inside my house. I’ve been praying, ‘Lord God, you said that you will never leave me nor forsake me.'”
Upon the dangerous storm’s departure, she assessed the damage to her home. Water drenched her carpets, damaging her walls and ceiling fans. The majority of her roof was gone, her trees were flattened, and her fencing was ripped apart. That’s where your compassion stepped in to make a difference.
Disaster Relief Arrives After Hurricane Ian Damages Her Home
Following the devastating impact of the category 4 hurricane, she is solely putting her trust in the Lord to provide for her in this difficult season. Thanks to Operation Blessing’s generous partners and volunteers, helped arrived at Linda’s property.
She detailed the work of the disaster relief team. “Operation Blessing showed up today. They worked super hard; they cleaned my yard; they tarped my roof; they took saturated, rotten furniture out for me. They moved stuff for me so that it’s in a more protective area.”
Linda is extremely grateful to Operation Blessing and to friends like you for sending the resources and volunteers to her home in her time of need.
MEXICO – A loving mother, Teresa wanted her three young boys to be healthy and happy. But after they moved into their new home in southern Mexico, there were problems. Little did they know they were being exposed to unclean water in Mexico.
In fact, Teresa’s family struggled to get water for their most basic needs. The local distribution system was sporadic—the community only received water every 15 days. Even then, it barely trickled. So every day, her three boys lugged buckets down to a nearby river to gather water for their family. Everyone in the community relied on that river for all the water they needed to survive. They washed their clothes, cleaned dishes, bathed in it, and drank it—without any way to ensure it was safe. Even worse, the boys got sick.
Their stomachs ached from severe diarrhea, and they began losing weight. They didn’t want to eat or even play—and often missed school because they had to stay home in bed. At first, Teresa thought their illness was due to the food, or even the weather. The community was isolated, and she couldn’t afford to take them to the hospital to get them the help she suspected they needed. So she watched helplessly as her children clutched their stomachs in pain. “We didn’t know it was the water,” Teresa said.
Solutions For Unclean Water In Mexico
When Teresa realized that the water might be what was making her children sick, she immediately began boiling it. The boys got better, yet that wasn’t enough—the community needed a healthier water system, but getting one would take a miracle. Then, generous and caring friends like you gave them that miracle. When Operation Blessing first visited, we found harmful bacteria in their water supply—bacteria that caused children like Teresa’s to become terribly sick.
But we also had a plan, and our supporters stepped up to provide the supplies to make it happen. Over the next few months, we worked with the residents to build a new community water system that would provide clean, safe water to the 338 people in that community. Our faithful donors provided the pipes to draw water from an underground spring and a large water storage tank with a chlorinated filter system to kill any harmful bacteria. And today, water that is healthy to drink runs freely to a faucet outside of each home in the community, thanks to the kindness and generosity of friends like you!
Training In Hygiene And Sanitation Skills
Our team also trained more than 100 men, women and children in hygiene and sanitation skills. These community residents learned basic hand washing practices and how to maintain proper sanitation so they could continue providing clean water to the community long into the future. And parents like Teresa won’t have to worry about the water making their little children sick again.
Because of partners like you, Teresa’s children no longer have to haul dirty water from the river. They have enough clean water to drink right at home, and they are growing healthy and strong.“ Nothing stops my kids now. They’re always healthy and playing!” Teresa told us with a smile. “Thank you, Operation Blessing, because now the water is clean and safe.”
