Believers Eastern Church Dioceses Bring Hope and Solace to Widows on International Widows Day

There are an estimated 258 million widows around the world, and nearly one in ten live in extreme poverty. Millions of these widows and their children endure destitution, homelessness, violence, and discrimination. To raise a voice for these deprived widows and create awareness to the real issues of widowhood, June 23 is observed around the world as International Widows Day.

This year, on the occasion of International Widows Day, Believers Eastern Church brought hope and solace to hundreds of widows throughout India and surrounding countries by reaching out to them with essential items. The church used this occasion to honor them for their resilience and courageously facing the double burden of supporting themselves as well as their children.

Here’s a detailed account of the various gift distribution programs organized by dioceses in order to improve the lives of widows and alleviate their suffering.

Believers Eastern Church Diocese of Hyderabad distributed dry rations and sarees to 20 needy widows who have no assured means of subsistence. Each person received a ration package containing rice 5 kg, dal 1 kg, oil 1 ltr, and vegetables such as potatoes 1 kg, and onion 1 kg. The diocese also gifted a pair of goats to a widowed mother, on the occasion.

Having lost her husband, this widowed mother was finding it very difficult to make ends meet and provide education to her two children. Now, with the help received from the church she will be able to earn a steady income and take care of the needs of her family.

In Diocese of Ranchi, blankets and bedsheets were distributed to destitute widows. H.G. Joshua Mor Barnabas Episcopa handed out the items to the women.

In observance of International Widows Day Buniadpur Diocese provided cooked meals to 25 widows and 20 children.

Hygiene items were distributed to ten widowed mothers by Diocese of Udaipur.

Diocese of Purulia marked the day by honoring widowed mothers in a leprosy colony with sarees.

Parishes in Jeypore Mission Province provided food and sarees to 23 widows.

In Diocese of Jaigaon, widowed mothers were honored with sarees on account of the day.

Ration items were distributed to destitute widows by parishes in Jabalpur Mission Province.

The lives of many widows have been changed through the different programs conducted by the church on this International Widows Day.