Church in Japan Continues to Help People Affected by COVID-19

From late June to July, over 1250 ethanol gel was distributed in Ishikawa, Toyama, Fukui, and welfare facilities in the Gifu prefecture by members in the Kanawaza Stake.

The project called ‘Novel Coronavirus Relief Project’ was initiated by the stake independence support committee of Kanawaza and is supported by church members of all stake wards and branches. It is part of the humanitarian support for the spread of infectious diseases that the church has organized recently all over the world.

According to the stake, they have already donated to 56 different places where ethanol alcohols are most needed. During the course of the project, it gained recognition from several local newspapers and media in the country.

In a press release organized by the stake public relations, President Hisamu Yamauchi, told the media “At the same time as telling myself that I am a member of the church, I was able to serve the society. ‘It’s a harvest’,” he said. “I’m glad I was able to see this fruit through the responsibility of an independence support specialist.”

Looking back to where it all began, the stake public relations director Yuzuru Kumagai said. “When I first heard about the project, I felt that it was too time-consuming, but in the end, the stake, each unit, and the church members became one,” he exclaimed. “I was able to do it brilliantly, and I saw many beautiful things. As a result, I was able to form many contacts in public relations, which was a great step forward in future public relations of the church. I was deeply impressed with his spirit and faith.”

The Kanazawa Stake Independence Support Committee was first introduced by Yoshiko Sasa, the Stake President of Kanazawa Stake, and was soon established at the end of May 2019. It was on May 10, 2020, that the committee decided to develop an ethanol gel donation program to help nursing care, home for the aged, and nursy schools who are struggling to find it due to the lack of supply.