Silver Spring, Maryland—The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has provided nearly 39 tons of donated clothing and shoes to the ADRA Tajikistan office for its year-round clothing distributions, with two substantial distributions benefiting approximately 2,400 women this spring.

Nearly 400 women at a reformatory colony in the settlement of Chal-Chal, located just outside the nation's capital of Dushanbe, received approximately 2,600 pounds of desperately needed clothing and shoes.

"The women of the colony were very happy to receive the clothes and shoes provided by ADRA, as many must wear the same old, worn clothes that they have, and seldom receive a new dress," says Svetlana Lantinova, finance director for ADRA Tajikistan.

ADRA also distributed nearly seven tons of clothing and shoes for 2,000 vulnerable women in the city of Kurgan-Tube, in southern Tajikistan.

Military actions during the civil war following independence from the Soviet Union in the early 1990s caused untold suffering in Kurgan-Tube, with many families losing their fathers, husbands, and primary income earners in the conflict. Many of the surviving women became widows and single parents overnight, and were forced to take on the full responsibility of providing for their families.

"For years, these dedicated women have neglected themselves in order to take care of their children," shares Victor Mukhanov, project assistant for ADRA Tajikistan. "We were blessed by this opportunity to shift their attentions for a moment. It was a joy to help each woman select a complete outfit and a pair of shoes that fit her well."

ADRA worked in cooperation with the local government and the Committee of the Red Crescent of Kurgan-Tube to distribute the much-needed clothing.

The remainder of the clothing shipment will be used in ADRA Tajikistan's nationwide, year-round clothing distributions, which benefit vulnerable populations throughout the country.

ADRA has been active in Tajikistan since 1997. The ADRA Tajikistan office works primarily in the areas of basic education, disaster management, primary health, and economic development.

ADRA is present in 125 countries, providing community development and emergency management without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, or ethnicity.

Additional information about ADRA can be found at www.adra.org.

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Media Contact: Nadia McGill ADRA International 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, MD 20904 Phone: 301.680.5145 E-mail: Media.Inquiries@adra.org