When Margaret and Rients Mazereeuw of Lethbridge, Alberta received word about the extreme drought facing Eastern Africa, they were compelled to respond.  After receiving a phone call from the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) they are now preparing to spend five months in drought-ridden Kenya to help coordinate the distribution of emergency food, water, and animal feed to thousands of families.

“The Lord has blessed us graciously in so many ways,” said the couple.  “We want to serve God by serving others.  We can only make a small difference, but we pray it gives us more awareness and insight into the situation of others so we can be better ambassadors for them and for our Lord.”

The couple are two of 26 volunteer International Relief Managers (IRMs) that CRWRC has trained to be ready to serve in times of need.  When crisis situations arise, these volunteers put their North American lives on hold and serve for several months at a time around the world. 

The Mazereeuws will be heading to Nairobi, Kenya on August 10.  During their five months in the country they, and three other IRMs who will arrive later, will help CRWRC to manage and distribute food, water, and livestock feed to 112,000 people in desperate need in Isiolo, Mbeere, Tharaka, Narok, Kajiado, Turkana, West Pokot, Laikipa, Taita, Taveta, and Kilifi, Kenya.  The response will include direct emergency aid, and in some areas will also include distributions of food in exchange for work on projects such as water catchment basins, tree planting, and growing grass to feed livestock. CRWRC also employs a disaster risk reduction specialist to work within drought-affected communities to improve their ability to prepare for future droughts and increase their likelihood of survival long-term.

CRWRC will also be responding in Ethiopia and Somalia by supporting the work of other members of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, the Global Relief Alliance, and the  ACT Alliance.  In total, CRWRC has planned $9 million in emergency aid in response to this drought crisis, reaching 145,000 drought-stricken people (20,500 families) in the region.

To schedule an interview with Margaret and Rients Mazereeuw, please contact Vanessa Mathews Hanna at 1-800-730-3490.

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