The Pátria Nova Adventist church located in the neighborhood of Novo Hamburgo in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, has become a safe haven for 41 vulnerable individuals. Since May 3, 2024, the church has been offering shelter, food, and support to families who were affected by floods that hit 332 municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul region.

Despite the church's welcoming environment, there are still people who require additional assistance. Solange Cristina Neinhdt, 51 years old, and her mother are among those who lost everything they had in the floods. They traveled from Campina, São Leopoldo, a city in Brazil, and are currently residing in the church.

Neinhdt expressed her gratitude towards the church, stating that she is thankful to have a roof over her head, warmth, food, love, and God. She believes that everything is wonderful and they have everything they need. She also expressed her desire to stay at the church longer since she has no idea when she will be able to go back home.

Solidarity in Action

The church has been playing an important role in supporting the community in addition to providing shelter to those in need. They have been gathering donations and distributing essential resources. On May 3, 50 lunch boxes and snacks were offered. On Saturday, May 4, breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks, and dinner were served to 50, 60, 50, and 60 people respectively. On Sunday, May 5, 60 breakfasts and 120 lunch boxes were served. Out of these, 60 lunch boxes were kept and the remaining 60 were donated to another shelter. At dinner, 60 lunch boxes were made available to the public.

The donations have been generous, as the church has received 35 mattresses, 62 blankets, 1,200 pieces of clothing, 130 pairs of shoes, as well as 30 basic food baskets and hygiene kits. Two kitchens were installed to produce lunch boxes, which were distributed to city hall shelters and homeless people.

Espaço Vida e Saúde: Support and Animal Rescue

The church serves as a shelter for people and also plays an important role in the community by offering professional courses at Espaço Vida e Saúde. During the recent flooding, the church's rooms were used to support animal rescue teams from Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, in Brazil.

Through acts of solidarity and support, the local community has demonstrated unity and empathy, showing that working together can help overcome the most difficult challenges.

Maria Salete, a 53-year-old resident of the Santo Afonso neighborhood in Novo Hamburgo, shared her experience and expressed gratitude for the support and care she received at the shelter, saying, "It was very interesting to have found this shelter. I really enjoyed being here because I am very well supported. We are not lacking anything, including affection. Thank you very much."

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