![One of the "Women of Hope" with the care packages ready to be distributed. [Photo Courtesy of Adventist Record]](https://images.hopesoftware.org/resize/L3c6MTkyMCxxOjc1L2hvcGUtaW1hZ2VzLzY1ZTcxMzAxZjY1NTI4MWE1MzhlZDM3My82YkoxNzEzODgxMTM2NjEyLmpwZw/w:1920,q:75/hope-images/65e71301f655281a538ed373/6bJ1713881136612.jpg)
With ongoing COVID-19 restrictions across Greater Sydney, “Women of Hope”, comprised of more than 80 women from six Samoan women’s groups, joined forces to prepare 305 care packs that were delivered to local charities and distributed to people in need.
Led by Sesepasara Tangatauli, Women of Hope president and member of the Punchbowl Samoan Church, the packs were filled with essential items, including hand sanitizers, personal hygiene packages, toothbrushes and toothpaste, tissues, and other goodies, and then distributed to organizations such as Street Buffet Sydney, Helping Hearts Sydney, and Helping Hands Canley Vale.
“[We are from] six Samoan churches at St Mary’s, Liverpool, Mt. Druitt, Sydney Central, Minto, and Punchbowl,” explains Tangatauli. “We decided to provide some toiletries bags for the homeless and families in need because we saw a lot of people in need during COVID and after COVID. The bags were packed before COVID hit.”
To share the love of God with recipients, encouraging Bible verses were included in the packs. They were to highlight the reason for the outreach and encourage recipients.
“We need to help them, not only physically, but at the same time, we deliver them a message by Bible verse to give them hope and help them spiritually,” said Tangatauli. “We planned to give it to one charity, but I’m sure things worked in God’s timing and His will. I messaged two charities, including our first choice, and they’re all [sic] got back to me at the same time.”
After months of planning, the packs were delivered in the first week of July, just before Sydney’s COVID-19 wave intensified.
“We didn’t know COVID would hit us again. At [God’s] right time, He delivered it. We are still praying for those Bible verses to plant a seed in someone’s heart, and God’s Spirit will help it grow.”
Women of Hope’s theme this year is “Sisters in arms for such a time”.
“We see the world is changing, and people feel lost and hopeless. We want to get the message out there that Jesus is our hope and we will not be lost anymore if we find Him,” said Tangatauli.
This article was originally published on the website of Adventist Record