For 82 children at Lavhelesani Drop-In Centre on the outskirts of Thohoyandou, Venda, in South Africa, meals come on a rotation, some days they eat, other days they go to bed hungry. This reality moved the Adventist World Radio SIDmedia team to action during their recent Godpods and Bible distribution mission to Limpopo.

Located in rural Venda, the drop-in centre has faced challenges. Established in 2002, it closed due to a lack of funding and support, operating solely on a volunteer basis. In 2019, the Chief of Lavhelesani recognized the growing need, as countless children required the centre's services. Operations resumed with five dedicated volunteers who teach life skills, assist with homework, and provide what meals they can manage.

When the AWR SIDmedia team learned about the centre during their planning for Godpod and Bible distribution in Thohoyandou, they knew they had to help, they said.

The team reached out to staff at the Southern-Indian Ocean Division and launched social media campaigns to gather support. The response was overwhelming. With the funds raised, they purchased comprehensive hygiene packs containing lotions, bar soaps, roll-on deodorants, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and much-needed sanitary pads for the older girls.

Understanding the food insecurity these children face daily, the team also brought non-perishable food items to supplement the centre's limited meal program. Responding to specific requests from the centre, they also provided soccer and netball for recreation and whiteboards to assist with homework.

The day of the visit became a celebration, organizers said. AWR SIDmedia team members, joined by volunteers from the Tshaulu Seventh-day Adventist Church, shared a meal with the children, encouraged them, and prayed before presenting the donated items. The gratitude was immediate and overwhelming, participants shared.

The chief of Tshifudi, Chief Thivhudzimunwe Mashau, personally thanked the team, emphasising how much every donation means to the centre.

"Some of these children have no parents, two weeks ago we just buried parents to two children who will now rely on the centre," he explained. "This support gives them hope."

The AWR SIDmedia team gifted the chief a Bible and showed him how to use the Godpod.

The centre still faces significant challenges. When it rains, the current building cannot accommodate all 82 children, and the need for expanded facilities remains urgent. However, parents and volunteers alike praised God for the provisions, seeing the visit as an answer to their prayers.

For the AWR team, the visit reinforced their mission beyond just distributing Bibles; it's about caring for the whole person, body and spirit, "especially the most vulnerable among us," they said.

The original article was provided by the Southern African Union Conference.