“It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving” (Mother Teresa of Calcutta)

“In a world in which the values of fraternity and of equality were really lived, there would be no neglected ones. If they exist, it is because we haven’t learned to share”, commented Andrea Ferreira, of the Network-of-Light of Santos, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Every week, the groups of the Network-of-Light of Guaruja and of Santos render a service in a community of the city of Guaruja, Sao Paulo. There are donations of fruits, greens, vegetables, and groceries. Besides, educational support and other playful and educational activities are offered for children. In some situations, kits of maternity for pregnant women are offered.

With the proximity of the end of the year, the idea arose of buying presents for the children, but the team did not want to associate the special dates to gifts. Thus, the proposal was: “Shall we make a food kit?” The goal was one food kit for each one of the 50 registered families. The participants got sensitized and made an effort to manifest the daring proposal. Each donation made the heart beat more strongly. The most inexpensive option was to buy everything wholesale and assemble the kits.

In the impulse of joy and readiness, a group service of assembly and distribution of kits was carried out on November 16, 2018, in the Sacred Room of the Christic Charity, in Guaruja, a place where the group conducts its activities in the community.

“For four years, we have had direct contact with these brothers and sisters, and we have observed their changes of behavior throughout the time. Gratitude, companionship, fraternity, and solidarity have been seeds sown and watered with love at each meeting. On the day of the delivery of the kits, we perceived that Christ Himself lived in the heart of each brother and sister. The seed germinated. They no longer see us only as the ‘aunts of the fruits’, but as collaborators of Christ”, remarked the coordinator of the Network-of-Light of Guaruja, Francisca Santana.

The content of the kit was composed of 20 basic items of food and another “Christmas touch”: a panettone and a bonbon box.

“It was not a Christmas kit, it was the kit of the Peace of Christ! As always, before the delivery of the donations, we kept a dialog with all of them, and, then, we made our thanksgiving prayer”, highlighted Rosi Freitas, a participant in the Network-of-Light of Guaruja.

Seventeen volunteers, affectionately called “godfathers and godmothers”, financially supported the initiative. Some of these people are friends of the members of the Network-of-Light. The transparency, the readiness, and persistence of the work touched the spirit of donation and service of these people, who began to support the groups of the Network-of-Light.

“Gratitude for this day. A touching day, in which I was able to confirm, ‘in full color’, the necessity of the people whom we help”, reported the “godmother” Priscila Orsi.

Additional information:

redeluzsaopaulo@fraterinternacional.org