On May 8, 2024, ADRA's (the Adventist Development and Relief Agency) solidarity truck arrived in São Leopoldo, one of the cities affected by severe flooding in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The truck has been assisting communities affected by heavy rains since May 5.

The truck can prepare 1,500 meals per day, wash and dry 105 kilos of clothes per shift, and offer psychosocial care to the community. "Our goal is to pass through the most affected regions of Rio Grande do Sul, bringing a little love and compassion through a hot plate of food and clean clothes. That's why we are coordinating, together with local authorities, the next destinations of the trailer," emphasized Fábio Salles, director of ADRA Brazil.

In its first 84 hours of service, the truck had the support of 150 volunteers and distributed:

• 2,350 lunch boxes

• 2,900 kg sanitized clothes

• 1,210 basic food baskets

• 1,160 hygiene kits

• 1,033 cleaning kits

• 140 mattresses

• 5,775 pieces of clothing

• 888 pairs of shoes

• 2,911 towels and bed linen

In the last eight years, the solidarity truck has delivered 178,294 hot meals and washed 191
tons of clothes, as it has passed through dozens of Brazilian cities, responding to the
country's main emergencies.

ADRA's Work

In an effort to aid families impacted by severe rainfall in Rio Grande do Sul, ADRA has initiated a social media fundraising campaign to distribute multi-purpose vouchers valued at roughly 1,000 reais (approx. $190 USD) each. These vouchers are designed to assist families in acquiring essential goods such as food, hygiene and cleaning products, household utensils, and construction materials.

ADRA is coordinating closely with the Secretariat of Social Development in Porto Alegre, a city in Brazil, to oversee the operation of four emergency shelters. These facilities, located at the FGTAS (Fundação Gaúcha do Trabalho e Ação Social) Vida Humanistic Center, the State Sports Training Center (CETE), and the Military Police Academy, have the combined capacity to house approximately 4,000 individuals in total.

This initiative not only offers immediate relief to those affected by the adverse weather conditions but also supports the ongoing recovery efforts in the region.

About ADRA

ADRA is a global humanitarian relief organization operating in more than 120 countries. Through its initiatives, ADRA seeks to transform lives and strengthen communities through sustainable solutions in community development, disaster management, and the promotion of justice.

The original article was published on the South American Division Portuguese website.