Bangkok, Thailand, 19 May 2021 -- Since the beginning of April 2021, Covid - 19 pandemic has struck Thailand for the third time [the first wave was from March to November 2020; number of persons infected were 2,347; the second wave was from December 2020 - March 2021; number of persons infected were - 24,626] This new wave of the pandemic has catapulted the number of those affected at the average of between 2,000 - 4,000 persons daily.

For this reason, many hospitals started to run out of bed to accommodate the sick, even though they have gradually increased the bed-spaces, especially in the "Bangkok area" and in the big cities. More field hospitals were also put up. Even though the Covid vaccines are still limited, yet, slowly, the public gradually receives the injections. Indeed, more time is needed.

In the midst of this crisis, the Salesian Family of Thailand - made up of the Salesians [SDB], the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians [FMA], the Salesian Cooperators [ASC], the Association of Mary Help of Christians [ADMA], the Sisters Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary [SIHM], the Institute of the Queenship of Mary [DQM], the Religious Sisters of the Queenship of Mary [SQM], the Past Pupils - joined forces to reach out to those badly affected by this third wave of the Covid-19 virus, under the coordination of the Planning and Development Office of the Salesian Province of Thailand [PDO]. On 18 May 2021, the Salesian Family, under the leadership of Fr. John Bosco Dheparat Pitisant, the Provincial, brought and distributed 'food bags' to the residents of Roong Mu community and 4 other neighboring slum communities in Khlong Toey District, Bangkok. Fr. Anurat Na Songkhla, the parish priest of the Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Miraculous Medal, together with the community leaders, received the donations which would be distributed to the residents. Because the area was flagged red due to the high number of infections, the members of the Salesian Family could not directly hand the 'food bags' to the recipients. These food bags were prepared by the members of the Salesian Family.

Even though this distribution will account only a little for 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.