5367(I)_The Salesian Family in Thailand Unites In the Fight Against Covid 19

May 04, 2020

By THA SC

Bangkok, 2 May 2020 -- The crisis situation of the spread of the virus Covid 19 in Thailand is continuously improving. The number of those infected is going down, especially in this past last week when those infected did not exceed 10 people. From the statistics as of 2 May 2020, the accumulated data are: Confirmed cases: 2,966; Recovered: 2,732; Deaths: 54.

Even if the situation is getting better, yet the Thai government still upholds the measures implemented in order to control the spread of this virus. It has continued to observe the curfew from 22.00 hrs to 04.00 hrs until the end of May 2020; the government still encourages the people to stay at home; checkpoints between towns and provinces are still up, mass gathering is not allowed. Of course the general public is still affected by these measures employed to contain the spread of the virus Covid 19.

On 28 April 2020, the Alumni Association of Huahin Vitthayalai School, Prachuabkhirikhan, together with the My Garden Food Raft, distributed 800 packages of food and beverages, desserts and noodles to the people affected by the pandemic Covid 19.

On 30 April 2020, the Salesians and the teaching staff of Sarasit Phithayalai School, together with the Salesian Sisters of Narivooth School - Banpong, Ratchaburi, gave 215 sets of food packages to the residents of Rong Thoop and to the others badly affected by the pandemic Covid 19 in the area of Banpong town.

On 1 May 2020, the "In the Same Boat" project, PDO section, the Salesians together with the alumni of the Salesian aspirantate brought 130 packs of food items to the poor - those layed-off from work, Burmese laborers, the aged and those left alone - those left out from the amelioration survey in the area of Bangkapi and Phattanakarn areas - Bangkok.

On 1 May 2020, Fr. John Bosco Dheparat Pitisant, the provincial, led the members of the Salesian Family to donate food items to Lam-Duan group at Salesianum House, Sampran. This said person works and rents a rest place in the area of Tha Kham Town, Nakorn Prathom. There were 500 families in that area.

On Saturday, 2 May 2020, the Salesian Family of Thailand which includes the Salesians, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, the Sisters Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Sisters of the Queenship of Mary, the Institute of the Daughters of the Queenship of Mary, the Association of Salesian Cooperators, the ADMA group and the Alumni - these joined hands to prepare and give out 500 packages of food and other food items to the poor and the needy people living around the area of Phra Mae Marie School - Sathupradit. This school is located in the middle of Bangkok and the people around the area have been strongly affected by the pandemic Covid 19. The food packages came from each member group of the Salesian Family. The civil officials from the Yannawa District gave assistance by looking after the orderly distribution of the goods. Fr. John Bosco Dheparat Pitisant, the provincial, said words of gratitude to the representatives of members of the Salesian Family: "to all the participating members, I would like to express our gratitude to all for helping alleviate the hardships of the people which is in line with the advice of His Holiness the Pope and the Rector Major who invite all to help the affected people in this pandemic. All of us in the Salesian Family cannot stay inactive and not empathise. Let us be the first to participate in extending help and may we have the heart sensitive to this situation we are presently facing."

Even though this distribution will account only a little to the alleviation of the hardships of the poor, yet this has value and great meaning for the children of Don Bosco who are at the side of the poor in Thai society.