COVID-19 Crisis Response for Mathare

Overview
Every month we host a MaSCA Children's Lunch, where we provide lunch and games for 80 children. This month we are suspending the program due to the government directive to avoid large gatherings and contain the spread of the COVID-19 Virus.

We have been talking about how we can support these children during the COVID-19 crisis. With many people off work and being told to stay home, many families will not be able to buy food, and helping these families feed their children feels like a natural and important extension of our Children's Lunch Program during this difficult period of time. For more information on access to food and water in the Mathare slum, read this article . 
Proposal
With your support we will be able to give a food package to families in need in the Mathare Bondeni informal settlement. Each package will consist of 5kgs of maize floor, 2kgs of rice, 2kgs of legumes, 3 liters of cooking oil, hygiene pack (hand soap) and 0.5kgs of salt, which will be sufficient to sustain a family for 3-4 weeks. Our Nairobi team is able to source food at a very low charity cost, and would work with our local field reps to reach the children that we invite to our children's lunches.

Cost: $20 CDN / 1400 KES / US$15 per family
Goal: Feed 80 families (note that we plan to work with other charities to meet this goal)
 
How Can We Safely Purchase Food and Create the Food Packages? 
MaSCA Nairobi found a supplier who is able to provide all the supplies needed at a low cost for a good cause. The supplier has also agreed to deliver the goods directly to our team, so that no one on our team would be exposed when purchased on collecting the supplies. We want to avoid asking our field reps to travel or go out shopping.

How Can the Families Pick up the Food Packages Without Risk?
As per recommendations from the Government, any sort of social gatherings pose a risk, including people grouping together to pick up food or water. After consulting with the UN, we propose the following as a safe method for the families to pick up the food package:

Packages are being prepared and stored at a common location. Each family is given a defined time slot for picking up their package, staggered. For example, one family comes at 10am, the next at 10:10, the next at 10:20, etc. One person from the family comes, social distancing is enforced at the pickup site, and our volunteers coordinate an organised, controlled food pickup. 

Thanks for your help and solidarity in this time of global crisis. We remain dedicated to supporting the at-risk Mathare community.

You can donate here using a bank card. However, if you would like to avoid the transfer fees taken by the GoFundMe platform, you can transfer directly to: 

1. MaSCA Nairobi Treasurer (MPESA to Lucas Odhiambo 0717400534)
2. MaSCA Ottawa Treasurer (Canadian bank account transfer - ask us for details)
3. U.S. fundraising lead (Venmo account: @katherine-cashman)
4. French fundraising lead (French bank account transfer to Milena Beekman)
5. Australian fundraising lead (Australian bank account transfer to Ariana Magini)