Day 64 of Quarantine
Day 64 of quarantine. We wanted to share these smiles with you and this update. Today the 72 hour complete lockdown lifted to miles-long lines of traffic trying to get into grocery stores while they were open. Our weekly delivery of items that we get from Walmart was supposed to happen today but has been delayed until Saturday, at least. Last Thursday evening, the country was caught off guard when the president announced the 72 hour lockdown. As we continue to experience an exponential growth in COVID cases, we are anticipating that he may institute another lockdown this Friday.
Currently, as a country, we have daily 5pm-5am curfews. Only essential stores (grocery, banks, gas stations) are open and must be closed by 4pm to respect the curfew.
Within Casa Bernabé, our on campus staff have all been sheltering in place for the last 2 months. Rainy season has started so that cuts down on our ability to let the kids play outside, expending some of their excess energy.
From a logistical standpoint, we have tried to keep an extra month’s supply of toilet paper, bleach, disinfectant, feminine hygiene products, general cleaning supplies, and non-perishable food items on hand as these are the first items to sell out or be unavailable. Especially, in the wake of the suddenness of the past weekends shelter-in-place.
We continue to receive our food donations of rice, some beans and sugar from Orphan Resources as well as a donation of eggs, and a portion of the chicken that we need. We also are in a season where our garden is producing a bumper crop of fresh produce. We have been able to even offer some of our extra produce to families in the community who are running low on food. Right now, during quarantine, our skeleton kitchen crew are cooking 3 meals a day for our 200 individuals on campus, 18,000 meals a month. That is enough to make anyone exhausted!
We know that many of you have been affected as well. We are so grateful for all of your prayers, donations, and the love you are sending from miles away.
As a reminder, through the end of May, any donations made to our COVID-19 relief fund will be doubled up to $50,000. We are just over 1/3 of the way to our goal with 2 weeks left. Your donations will help us continue to bridge the uncertainty that the pandemic is causing.
You can double your donation here
https://www.foce.org/covid19-help/#campaign-1534