In Albania, Food and Medicine for the Poor

The past few months in Pogradec and the surrounding region have been marked by cold temperatures and challenging weather. While snowfall near the lakeside is rare, the higher elevations in the nearby mountains are a different story—rugged, remote, and often difficult to access. Even the Nehemiah Gateway campus just outside the city experienced a light accumulation of snow in April.

Thankfully, winter is beginning to loosen its grip. With the arrival of spring, the once dormant hillsides now glow with vibrant green grass, as if celebrating the renewal of life. For the Social and Medical Improvement (SMI) team, this change signals the season’s second round of food aid distribution.

Early in the morning, a van is loaded with food parcels and joined by a small group of staff and supporters. The roads are winding and uneven, but fortunately no longer covered in mud or treacherous ice. As development efforts continue in Albania, new highways have begun to emerge. These unfinished roads serve as convenient meeting points for SMI’s regular clients—individuals and families who wait patiently along guardrails for the team’s arrival.

Each recipient is familiar to the team. They receive food aid at least four times a year, and these brief encounters offer more than just material support. There’s conversation, laughter, and emotional connection—small but meaningful reminders that they are not forgotten.

After the initial drop-offs, the team pushes further into the mountains, transitioning from smooth pavement to rough backroads. The farther they go, the more isolated the homes, and often, the greater the need. In these remote areas, social interaction is rare. Each visit brings not only practical support but a vital human connection that clients deeply value.

Even for those not behind the wheel, the journey is taxing. Hours of bouncing over uneven terrain take their toll. Yet, every three months, the SMI team returns to these villages—committed, consistent, and compassionate. For many living in these forgotten corners, the team’s arrival may be one of the only lifelines they have.

Because when no one else can reach them, the SMI team does.

The mountains may be steep and the roads rough, but with your support, we can keep showing up—bringing food, compassion, and dignity to those who need it most. Your gift helps fuel these journeys, stock the food parcels, and remind people in Albania’s most remote villages that they are not alone.

Every donation, no matter the size, brings hope a little closer.