TPRF Grant Provides Food for Chilean Earthquake Victims Near Epicenter

Grant of $US 33,000 will help provide food through winter in a town where 80% are homeless

LOS ANGELES, March 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The 8.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Chile in late February has left 80% of the people of Rio Claro homeless and without stores of food for the winter. Even as high-magnitude aftershocks continue, many are facing the cold Andes winter with only makeshift shelter and no stock of provisions. The grant from The Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF) will provide a month's supply of food for 1,000 people most in need.

Senior adults, pregnant women, and children are particularly at risk in this town, which relies on seasonal work growing crops. The earthquake not only crumbled homes beyond repair, but disrupted water supplies, causing many crops to fail just prior to harvest time. Fundacion Origen, the Chilean charity receiving the grant, is focusing on providing food for the most vulnerable population through the winter months. Providing food is considered to be the most effective way of relieving people's suffering in the area, since most other aid is dedicated to rebuilding.

As Mary Anne Muller, president of Origen, explains, "All people's savings from our southern hemisphere summer will be spent on basic building materials, so we are working to provide food to pass this difficult time until they can recover normality."

The food will be hauled in trucks on roads that are now treacherous, extending the drive from Santiago from five to eight hours, and will be personally delivered by Fundacion Origen staff. On average, each person will receive 5 kilos of flour, 5 kilos of lentils and beans, 3 kilos of powdered milk, 4 kilos of rice as well as oil, sugar, salt, canned fish, oatmeal and soy protein per month.

Linda Pascotto, President of The Prem Rawat Foundation, expressed, "We are happy to be able to help provide some sense of security in the coming months to these people who have lost so much. It is amazing to hear of their courageous efforts to meet the basic needs of their families in crowded improvised tents. I hope that having access to food will give them a sense of hope that they can and will recover."

About The Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF)

Created in 2001, TPRF promotes Prem Rawat's vision to address fundamental human needs so that people everywhere can live their lives with Dignity, Peace, and Prosperity.

SOURCE The Prem Rawat Foundation

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED