COVID-19 Update

How you can help:

  • We are accepting donations to our emergency Meal Support campaign to provide food bags for the families. Since we are unsure of the length of the lockdown at this time, we appreciate all donations. Any funds remaining after the children return to school will be transferred to the Healthy Start campaign, which provides both breakfast and lunch, five days per week at school.
  • Join us in prayer. Every Tuesday we are hosting a “Virtual Prayer Hour” on the GRACES Facebook page. Each event includes new prayer requests and scriptures to pray with. We invite you to share your prayer intentions and ways of praying that are meaningful to you. This is not a live-streamed event, so if you are unable to make the specific time, you can still use the event resources to pray when it works in your schedule.
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156 confirmed cases

5 deaths

19 recovered

Regulations in Guatemala

  • Guatemala suspended all education until further notice
  • All gatherings are suspended (including churches, etc.)
  • Most non-essential businesses are closed. Restaurants can offer to-go and delivery services
  • All Holy Week activities are canceled (processions, afombras, etc)
  • There is a strict curfew from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. when no one is allowed to be outside of their home except emergency responders, police, security guards and a few other essential personnel
  • International borders are temporarily closed
  • No traveling is allowed between different departments within Guatemala
  • People must wear masks in supermarkets and banks
  • All parks are closed

How does this affect our families?

Most of the families we work with are day laborers and are immediately without work. With no savings, unemployment benefits or other means of income, they are in an extremely difficult situation. Additionally, the children are not able to study, and the majority of the families have little education. The families also live in small spaces with many family members and homes in disrepair, so the curfew is exceedingly uncomfortable and difficult.

What we are doing:

Through the help of our donors, GRACES provided 260 food bags over the span of two weeks. This is enough to cover each family at the school for a month’s worth of food. We will continue to provide this service to our families as long as there is no school. The teachers have also put together study plans for their students. The materials do not require the use of the internet. All of our teachers continue to communicate with their students and families, providing educational and emotional support.