Last week our two teams again successfully delivered a hundred meals to people in need in Quito, Ecuador. One team provided meals of rice, lentil stew, and fried chicken to people in the Comite del Pueblo neighborhood. This neighborhood is a thoroughfare for migrants and other displaced people who must travel by foot to the Carcelen Bus Terminal before continuing their journeys. These families often have to beg for money for food and shelter and are often forced to sleep in the parks where the tree cover provides some shelter from the rain. The other team fed people with meals of a hearty salad and rice with meat in the San Rafael and Sangolqui neighborhoods in Valle de los Chillos. They also made children smile with presents of balloons and toys.
The team in Comite del Pueblo was notified of a park where many people had been spending the night and brought meal kits to them there. They also were able to provide them with blankets.
We noticed that some of them had thin jackets that did not allow them to bear the cold at night. For this reason we gave them blankets which were donated to us by Ruth Mejia. Upon receiving these blankets the people became very happy. They told us that this would allow them to withstand the cold nights of the capital. Very happy, they ate lunch and carefully put away their blankets. A woman who was in the group wrapped it around their shoulders and told us that it was warm.
The other team found perspective in their interactions with young children who they were able to provide with balloons and small toys.
Some of the children, facing challenges that adults cannot even imagine, welcomed us with open arms and bright eyes. As we handed out their lunches, their faces lit up, appreciation expressed with every whispered “thank you” and contagious smile. These moments of interaction with the children reminded us of the importance of keeping perspective and finding joy in the little things in life. Their genuine gratitude and ability to find happiness in the midst of adversity was a profound and humbling lesson for all of us. What really touched our hearts was when, in addition to the lunches, we handed out simple but meaningful toys. Their eyes widened with wonder and excitement, and laughter filled the air as they shared their new treasures with friends and siblings.
Thank you to both teams for their continued hard work in preparing the meals and delivering them to those in need, as well as for their use of local expertise in finding families in need. Please get in touch with us if you would like to help with our meal project in Quito.