Faces of BlinkNow - Coronavirus Lockdown
Monday, April 13, 2020
“There are workers here from India, there are undocumented people who have no citizenship. They can’t go back across the border. They have no food to eat. I’m proud to serve on a board that takes care of every person. I came out here today to lift bags of rice and I will come tomorrow.” Gita - Kopila Valley board member
Where would we be without our amazing team? Today we want to celebrate our social workers, health workers and nutritionist, farmers, Nepali board members and administration for working around the clock — early mornings and late into the night — to help us distribute food as fast as we get it. They are making our emergency response efforts possible.
“I have 8 kids, I work as a laborer breaking rocks. Life without work has been very hard. But today I feel I am lucky. It was nice of you to put sinki in this bag. How did you know Sinki is my favorite? I love the soup that comes from it. Today I will make soup for my family.”
"My son is disabled. Today I came to the road to beg for food for our family. And then I came to this place and someone said there was food being given inside. I don’t have to beg from place to place. I feel that God was watching over me today.”
"I heard you’ve been wishing for coffee. I ordered this coffee two days before the lockdown. I’ve been saving it for you, Maggie." - Dibya, neighbor and Kopila volunteer
“There is a widow next door to us. She has many kids and no food. We will share this with her.”
"Being a nutritionist, I am aware of the fact that good nutrition not only fills our stomachs but also heals our body and mind. I took the job at Kopila Valley School with the objective of providing nutritious food to people who need it the most. I have that responsibility during this pandemic too and that’s why I am here.” - Anupama, Kopila Valley Nutritionist
“I am old but I am strong. I would do anything for my granddaughter.”
“I work as a laborer. You have taken care of my family. I will get back to work again and I won’t forget how you’ve helped us.”
“I know the orphan life and I know what an empty belly feels like. I remember day after day when all we ate was pieces of boiled pumpkin. The hard times were February and March before we cut the wheat. And July through September before the rice harvest. I remember my mouth watering for rice and wanting it so so bad. When you have no food you feel even hungrier.
"There was one day in July when I was ten years old. My mom had just died and I was hungry and I was walking through the village in the evening when everyone was eating dinner. People store their pumpkins and cucumbers on the grass roof to dry. I saw a big juicy cucumber at a neighbors house. I was hungry and didn’t think I would get caught so I took it. The next day my neighbor found out it was me and she came yelling and cursing at me. I still remember that day now, getting yelled at as a hungry kid for stealing a cucumber to eat. It brings tears to my eyes.
"Looking at everyone’s faces today, I can’t help but look back at my own life and I feel so happy. I can work early mornings and late into the evening for this purpose. Food protects our life. Any way, any how, we need to save our kids and fill their bellies. This has been one of my proudest times to be Kopila Valley’s chairman.” - Tope, Co-founder and Chairman of Kopila Valley
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