Seventh-day Adventist church members are among aid organizations responding to an earthquake that devastated central Italy last week.

Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) officials said they would offer long-term aid during the recovery and rebuilding process. Local Adventist church members are providing meals and raising money for rebuilding projects.

The April 6 earthquake killed nearly 300 people and was the worst in 30 years, Reuters reported. L'Aquila, where many of the victims lived, is located approximately 70 miles (110 kilometers) east of Rome.

"ADRA is committed to helping those who are suffering in this ongoing tragedy," said Joerg Fehr, executive director for the ADRA Euro-Africa regional office located in Switzerland. "As relief efforts continue, let us remember to keep those affected by this disaster in our prayers."

Local ADRA volunteers from the Scafa Adventist church in Abruzzo are providing meals to dozens of displaced persons from L'Aquila staying in a nearby hostel.

Local Adventist youth groups also plan to provide entertainment at the displaced person camps and shelters, reaching out to the largely Catholic population in Abruzzo.

For more information, visit adra.org.