The country of Lebanon has been experiencing an unprecedented economic collapse. The pandemic, coupled with the local currency’s hyperinflation and the devastating explosion on August 4, 2020, have all but paralyzed the country. Ministries such as the Franciscan Sisters of Cross, historically, have relied, in large part, on government support for many of their needs. Unfortunately, the Lebanese government is failing comprehensively on its obligations, threatening the survival of this essential mission which serves more than 3,000 patients, 3,000 students and 2,000 employees and their families. For example, the current daily allowance for an in-patient at the psychiatric hospital is around $2.00, including food and medication.

Our effort debuted just after the explosion in Beirut on August the 4th, 2020. The cause was heavily promoted after our meeting with Reverend Bishop Gregory Mansour in Brooklyn and later endorsed by his Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan & Bishop Abdallah Zaidan. Since September 2020, more than 1 million dollars in aids. The effort gathered a lot of momentum from individuals and organizations alike. We were able to provide a substantial amount of help, from cash contributions to food shipments, and from donations in kind for medicine to funds to rebuild damaged intuitions. Today, we are turning this effort into a more robust infrastructure supported by a team devoted to supporting the Sisters’ vital mission.