Dehonians in Caracas open their doors to the neediest people, offering what little they have.
“I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me into your home. I was a stranger and you welcomed me into your home” (Mt 25:35)
In recent years the Venezuelan currency (bolivar) has undergone a fairly significant devaluation, starting in 2008 with the deletion of three zeros and continuing with five zeros, this has generated hyperinflation, which has reached its maximum expression in 2017. Subsequently, there was a currency reconversion in 2018 and the incorporation of new banknotes to the monetary cone. The last incorporation was on March 5, 2021. The incorporation of high denomination banknotes does not mean an increase in the social and economic welfare of the citizens, on the contrary, it means more inflation, poverty and inequality. The prices of basic basket products exceed the capacity of pensions and salaries, which are insufficient to cover the cost of the basic food basket.
Due to this situation, more and more people lack daily food and must resort to alternative ways of obtaining daily sustenance.
In this context, there are many unprotected people: unemployed and salaried people, with a salary that is not even enough for a food product, most of them are elderly and small families. Due to the inability to access the basic food basket and therefore, the daily food, they must resort to the search for food, often walking the streets of the city waiting for the generosity of others. From our community “P. Dehon Seminary”, located in the capital of the country, every Tuesday and Thursday we offer a plate of food to the most needy brothers and sisters. We serve an average of 150 people and as the days go by this number increases. Children and a large number of elderly people come to our door and we are always ready to help them.
During this situation, we Dehonians continue to try to give what little we have, seeing the face of Jesus in the faces of all our most disadvantaged brothers and sisters.
If you would like to know more about our projects in Venezuela and how to help us, you can contact us at seminariodehonven@gmail.comor visit our social networks:
Facebook: Seminario P. Dehon
Instagram: seminarioscjven
