Church Equips Kitchens to Help Peruvian Poor

The Church has donated stoves and cooking utensils to equip more than thirty community kitchens that will be used by Peruvians struggling to feed their families.

The donations, made late in 1990, will aid Peruvians who have been badly hurt by rocketing inflation and financial crises over the past several years. Many of the 175,000 Church members in Peru are among those affected.

The equipment donated by the Church went to the Community Kitchens Program in Lima, Peru’s capital. The community kitchens are used by families who otherwise would not have cooking facilities. The program grew out of efforts by mothers’ clubs throughout the country to find ways to feed their families.

The Church also donated eighty thousand pounds of surplus clothing.

The presidency of the Church’s South America North Area directed the relief effort. Bishop Glenn L. Pace, Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, was in Peru to assist with the contribution of kitchen equipment and clothing. He visited one of the community kitchens to see how the equipment would be used and helped cook lunch for people there.

When the Church donations were presented to Peruvian leaders, Bishop Pace was accompanied by Philippe J. Kradolfer, regional representative for the Lima Peru Central Region, and Carlos Alfredo Quintana Cuba, president of the Lima Peru Central Stake. On behalf of the Church, President Cuba made the presentation to Dr. Victor Paredes, president of the Peruvian congress, and Dr. Luz Salgado, president of Peru’s Direct Help program.

Bishop Pace explained to the government leaders how the offerings of Latter-day Saints throughout the world had contributed to the Church’s gift to Peruvians.