The Manna on Weels programme was started by Dr. Richard Pereira, our parishioner, from the 30th of March, for the distribution of food packets on the streets of Bandra, for the many migrants and daily wage earners who did not have the possibility of a decent meal. From 25 packets on the first day through one car, it reached 1850 packets through 12 cars and 30 volunteers. About Rs. 25 lakhs were received through donations for the Food Distribution programme. A total of 40,000 food packets and bottles of drinking water were distributed. Manna on Weels ended on the 15th of May due to a variety of reasons. The 30 volunteers involved, mentored by Fr. Gerard Rodricks SJ showed great courage and generosity in the risks they took to reach nourishment to those in need.
- The Helping Hands continued the Food Distribution on the streets, through the keenness and availability of some of the earlier volunteers, under the direction of Arabella Burroughs and mentored by Fr. Gerard. Distribution was through 2 cars and at the Gate of St. Peter’s Church, with about 600 food packets and bottles of drinking water per day reaching a cumulative figure of about 80,000 packets by the end of June 2020 when the programme was finally terminated. Funding continued through donations and through the Community Fund of St. Peter’s.
- In response to a request from the Archbishop of Mumbai, Cardinal Gracias, St. Stanislaus High School and St. Peter’s Church agreed to host a Camp for Migrants. On the 19th of April, we began this camp, bringing it to a close two months later in mid-June. The BMC H/W Ward officers and our Corporator Mr. Asif Zakaria, along with the Nargis Dutt Foundation and some Voluntary Organizations in the field, assisted us in setting up and running the camp. We had about 110 people stranded in the city without accommodation and food registering with us, some staying for a couple of days, but many staying the whole two months. Their needs were all taken care of including food, accommodation, medical, recreation, provision of a change of clothes and toilet articles, entertainment and exercise, recharge of mobiles and even tickets booked for them to go back to their home States. We tied up with a Voluntary Organization to manufacture Face Shields for medical use. An otherwise lethargic and sullen group suddenly came to life, turning the Hall into a production unit and producing more Face Shields than was anticipated.
Fr. Felix D’Souza S.J., along with Mr. Tony Coelho, our Campus Administrator, was in charge of the operations. A young Jesuit Scholastic Br. Seby Varghese spent the month of May in helping out too. Sr. Divya F.C. from St. Joseph’s Convent added her expertise by way of dance and art therapy.
Br. Conrad Fonseca S.J. functioned as resident male nurse and doctor to several guests of the camp. The camp proved a safe haven to people who needed refuge
- The Parish continued with its Food for the Hungry Programme of a cooked meal every weekday evening for about 60 people registered from the parish and parishes around. The number went up to 90 during the lockdown.
- Rations were also distributed to about 30 families of tribal Christians in the Parish.
- The Parish Finance Committee decided to transfer Rs 2500/- each to about 50 families, in May, to help them meet their financial needs.
- The School accommodated about 150 people from Ganesh Nagar, near the sea, for 24 hours before the expected cyclone, to protect them from the expected floods. They left when the cyclone crossed the coast and missed the city.
- The School also accommodated and provided dinner to about 110 nurses from the Holy Family Hospital on the night of the expected cyclone, since it was anticipated that they would not be able to reach their hostel after duty, nor reach the hospital early morning for their duty shift.
