Church distributes nutritious food to Cov patients at Rims

Ranchi: The Archdiocese of Ranchi, under the Roman Catholic Church, on Wednesday began distribution of nutrition packets to over 300 patients admitted to the Covid ward at the state-run Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (Rims). The food packets include fruit, biscuits, fresh juice, beaten rice, jaggery and mineral water.
The Church’s new effort is in addition to the 800 cooked food packets that the Archdiocese of Ranchi, in association with Ranchi Catholic Youth, has been distributing amongst the relatives of patients hospitalised at Rims since May 4.
Ranchi archbishop Felix Toppo and auxiliary bishop Theodore Mascarenhas blessed the first 300 packets distributed among the patients. Toppo, praying over the packets, thanked God for keeping them healthy so that they could serve the sick and the needy.
"Every day, Church officials, seminarians and volunteers of Ranchi Catholic Youth will take 300 food packets to Rims and hand over them to the warden, who will in turn distribute these among the patients. We will not undertake any direct distribution to patients to comply with Covid norms," Mascarenhas said.
He added that the Ranchi archdiocese is drawing up plans to distribute similar food and nutrition packets at other hospitals in the state. He emphasised that the Church has been able to serve the poor as many religious congregations and benefactors belonging both to the Catholic Church as well as followers of other religions have been generously donating to the cause.
"We will soon launch another programme to distribute dry ration -- rice, pulses, potatoes, cooking oil, salt, spices and onions -- among the needy and impoverished in sufficient quantities that would last at least two weeks for a family," Mascarenhas said.