Soon food, clothing and medicine began arriving from Jehovah’s witnesses in Costa Rica and El Salvador. Water was brought in by truck from areas around Managua. That day hundreds were given needed help.

On Monday, December 25, other depots were established to distribute relief supplies to earthquake victims, and on Tuesday still more of such depots were set up in other towns. By that time the greater portion of Managua’s population had left the city. Meanwhile tons of relief supplies had arrived from Jehovah’s witnesses in Costa Rica, Honduras and El Salvador, and more was on the way. Monetary help was also being received from Witnesses in other lands.

A missionary from Honduras writes of the relief measures: “The brothers here and the ones from Costa Rica and El Salvador have been taking in food supplies by the tons. Although our brothers are poor, they have given from their hearts.” She continues: “Tonight we spent the evening here in the branch [of the Watch Tower Society at Tegucigalpa] sacking potatoes, onions, and detergent into plastic bags for easy distribution.”

In Managua itself, especially in the downtown area, the stench of bodies was getting stronger. Fires were breaking out. And there was considerable looting. It was deemed advisable to evacuate the branch office of the Society. This move was undertaken on Wednesday, December 27.

The relief work that had been directed from the branch office then began to be carried out from a new location about thirteen miles south of Managua. There Jehovah’s witnesses set themselves to the task of making up food packages. Benches from the branch Kingdom Hall became worktables and storage shelves.

L. E. Witherspoon reports that the packages basically contained the following items: eight pounds of rice, four pounds of beans, one pound of cheese, one pound of lard, one pound of dried milk, three pounds of dry corn, a half pound of coffee, two pounds of sugar, a large tin of sardines, two candles, two boxes of matches, one bar of soap and one package of soup mix along with the latest issues of The Watchtower and Awake! The packages were made up in two sizes, one that could last a family of two to five for about five days, and another that could last a family of six to ten for the same period.

For many, leaving Managua meant a change in climate from hot to cool or even cold weather. So blankets were also supplied to those needing them.

Of course, much has been contributed by Jehovah’s witnesses and their friends in Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador and elsewhere to assist with the relief work. This has been especially encouraging to those receiving help, as they are aware of the fact that many of their fellow believers in neighboring lands are quite poor.