Adventist Volunteers Deliver More than 5,000 Personal Protection Kits to Brazilian Hospital

Employees from the South American headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Doutores de Esperança (Doctors of Hope) group joined together to collect more than 5,000 personal protection kits (PPE’s) for medical professionals at the forefront of the fight against Covid-19. The supplies were donated to the Regional Hospital of Asa Norte (HRAN) in Brasília. Included in the PPE kits were more than three thousand caps and two thousand lab coats. 

Volunteers delivered the packages, including small Easter gifts for the employees, on Saturday, April 3. The group shared songs, inspirational messages, prayer and hand written notes with the healthcare professionals and patients. Recipients were moved by the gesture. 

Pastor Herbert Boger, director of the Adventist Solidarity Action (ASA) for eight South American countries, highlighted that the donation was intended to make life a little easier for those who are on the frontlines of the pandemic. “We wanted to leave a special message, in addition to the items we delivered,” he stressed.

With tears in her eyes, HRAN employee Margarete de Jesus held the letter she received. When some tears fell on the paper, she expressed that in the midst of so much pain, death and suffering, the volunteers had brought her a little relief. “We have seen so many bad things! We are living through the worst moment of the pandemic. This group came to bring a lighter air to our environment,” she said.

Gratitude 

While songs were sung outside, patients and staff appeared at the hospital windows and expressed gratitude through hand gestures.

The director of Human Resources at the administrative headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church for South America, Avelino Neto, explained that the action was in partnership with the Doutores de Esperança group. “Every year, we run two donation campaigns. This year we met the need to bring this equipment to healthcare professionals. Last Monday we launched the challenge for our employees and during the week we received donations,” he detailed.

Thaís Trivelato, head of Doutores de Esperança, said, “We want to take something different, in addition to donations. A moment of prayer with staff and patients, a serenade at the window. This can bring a little relief for patients who are experiencing difficult moments during hospitalization.”

 This article was originally published on the South American Division’s Portuguese news site.