South America, February 18, 2026
Photo: mitropolia.us
The Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas, in collaboration with the St. Paraskeva Orthodox Charity, has been running a philanthropic food program across several South American countries for over three years.
The initiative, known as Alimentos de Amor (Food of Love), operates out of Romanian parishes in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, Peru, and Paraguay, providing warm meals to people in need every Saturday, reports the Romanian Metropolia.
The program received a significant boost this year, as the St. Paraskeva Orthodox Charity allocated $10,000 USD to support four new initiative locations throughout the year.
In Caracas, Venezuela, the Church of the Holy Emperors Constantine and Helen has seen the program grow the most, with over 400 people receiving a warm meal at the first event of 2026, along with clothing and toy distributions for children.
In Barranquilla, Colombia, the Church of St. John the Wallachian served around 100 people at the start of the year, with volunteers offering food and support to those referred to as “amiguitos de la calle”—friends of the street.
Photo: mitropolia.us
The Church of St. Joseph of Partoș in Quito, Ecuador, continues its work supporting vulnerable people in the surrounding community, while the Church of St. Silouan the Athonite in Concepción, Chile, organized an emergency response to help families affected by fires in the Gran Concepción area.
Among the four newly launched locations, the Orthodox Mission of St. Theodora of Sihla in Bucaramanga, Colombia, distributed 100 meals at Parque Centenario during its first event of the year.
In Lima, Peru, the initiative was organized in partnership with the Cultural Association Zalmoxis – Raíces Rumanas, providing 45–50 warm meals at Comedor Jardín de Rosa de Santa María in the Barrios Altos neighborhood.
In Santiago de Chile, 200 sandwiches and drinks were distributed at Plazoleta Capitán Prat near the Mercado Central, and in Encarnación, Paraguay, more than 80 meals were delivered to people in need.
Several of the South American parishes are supported by Romanian Orthodox communities in the United States. The Caracas parish receives support from the Cathedral of the Holy Emperors Constantine and Helen in Chicago, the Barranquilla parish from Holy Trinity Church in Troy, Michigan, the Quito community from Holy Trinity Church in Philadelphia, and the Concepción parish from Annunciation Cathedral in Cleveland.
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