Mangaluru: A large number of people and their families living in the coastal districts of Karnataka and Kerala were affected due to the torrential rains over the last couple of weeks. Some parts were flooded badly. The Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM), Central Council Mangalore Diocese in collaboration with Canara Organization for Development & Peace (CODP) initiated food relief action under the name “Mission KA-2019 (Mission Karnataka and Kerala)” from Sunday, 11th August 2019 to 22nd August 2019.
Mission KA-2019 was undertaken with the guidance of the Most Rev. Dr. Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of Mangalore Diocese, Rev. Fr Ronald Prakash Dsouza Director Yuvaspoorthi, Rev. Fr Ashwin Lohith Cardoza, Director Designate, Diocesan Youth President, Leon Loyd Saldanha Bendur, Veena Vas, Shaktinagar – Diocesan Youth General Secretary – ICYM Mangalore Diocese along with the support of all the units and deaneries of the diocese.
Essential items such as rice, dal, sanitary pads, biscuits, drinking water, cooking oil, clothes, soaps, raincoats and various non-perishable items that were donated by families in the diocese, were segregated and dispatched according to the requirements of the people to the different areas. Seven truckloads were dispatched to Belgaum, Karwar, Calicut, Wayanad, Dharward and nearby localities of Belthangady and adjacent areas.
It is estimated that items worth more than 75 lakhs were collected and distributed to various places through genuine sources. More than a hundred ICYM youths volunteered towards this mission at ICYM Youth office, Olivet House, Jeppu. Meanwhile, ICYM Youth members also visited the affected areas and helped in relief work services.
It may be recalled that in the month of August 2018, ICYM Mangalore Diocese had successfully launched a similar humanitarian work under the name Mission K2K: Kudla to Kodagu & Kerala supplying relief materials to flood-affected areas. ICYM Mangalore Diocese has hailed praises from various youth organizations and associations in and around the state for this work.
Rev. Msgr. Maxim L. Noronha – Vicar General, Diocese of Mangalore had paid a visit to ICYM Mangalore Diocesan Office, Olivet House Jeppu and congratulated the youth for initiating Mission KA – 2019 and the efforts put up by the youth as a sign of humanity.
ICYM Central Council, Mangalore Diocese is grateful to the ICYM members, donors, truck drivers, etc who worked day and night to help the victims and make “MISSION KA-2019” a successful one.
