In Albania, Food and Medicine for the Poor

Dear friends--

When Albania went into a nationwide lockdown in early March, Nehemiah Gateway worked with donors, GlobalGiving, and the City of Pogradec to expand the reach of its longstanding aid delivery program. The people we normally help--people who are old and alone, struggling with chronic health conditions, or trapped in a cycle of poverty-- continued needing aid. Many Albanians who live from day to day found themselves needing help as well, as their precarious livelihoods were put on hold by the lockdown. During March and April of 2020, Nehemiah Gateway delivered over 1000 aid parcels to people in need in Pogradec and Gjirokastër. 

At present, lockdowns in Albania have been substantially lifted. Nonetheless, the In Albania, Food and Medicine for the Poor program continues providing basic aid deliveries to society's most vulnerable-- and will continue doing so as long as aid is needed. This support saves lives-- especially in the era of COVID-19. By safely delivering necessities to people with chronic health conditions, we are helping them limit their exposure to other people, and thus their risk of infection.

With cases of COVID-19 increasing in Albania, it will become increasingly important to help vulnerable people stay home. And, if another lockdown occurs, In Albania, Food and Medicine for the Poor will be prepared to step up again to help the communities it serves. 

We are grateful for your support of this progam. 

Be well,

Sarah Pita

The humanitarian team at NG spends many hours every year visiting the villages around Pogradec, not only bringing needed food and supplies to people in difficult circumstances, but also showing compassion and making them feel less invisible. The food and supplies are always welcome, and they give our team a chance to connect with people who are often forgotten. 

Fatime, pictured above, lives in the village of Çerravë, southeast of Pogradec. At 75, she suffers from hemiparesis (paralysis on one side of her body). She lived for a long time with a daughter with special needs; after that daughter passed away, she lived with her son for a while and now is living with her other daughter. Nehemiah Gateway provides Fatime and her daughter with food parcels and home visits to make sure there aren't other unmet needs.

Fatime's is just one of 190 households the NG team regularly visits. Sometimes, aid  is the boost that makes it possible for people to begin building a more self-sufficient existence. Other times, it is a needed support for people who are perpetually falling through holes in Albania's social safety net. 

Your generous support helps people like Fatime. You can contribute to this ongoing program here.

With gratitude,

Sarah Pita

Development Director, NG-USA