Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Teen Tie-Dyes Her Way to Nicaraguan Home

Sami Kerker, 15, chose to forgo her desire to purchase a car at 16 to fulfill the dream of homeownership for a destitute family she had never met. Investing money she had earned since the sixth-grade in tie-dye materials and clothing, Sami enlisted the support of friends and family nationwide. Sami’s goal is to raise money to build a safe, sturdy Food For The Poor house for a Nicaraguan family and to travel to see her dream realized.

“I was inspired by the Lynn University students and faculty who went to Haiti last year to try to make a difference in this poverty-stricken country,” said Sami. “To honor their work, I wanted to follow in their footsteps. That is how I decided to volunteer with Food For The Poor. ”

Motivated by her economics professor, Sami, a sophomore at Atlantic Community High School in Delray Beach, aspires to graduate from the International Baccalaureate (IB) program with the IB Diploma. To fulfill the required personal project, Sami created a business, Tie Dye Unique – designing and constructing the Web site to sell her merchandise. From the beginning, Sami has selflessly donated 100 percent of the profit to charity, and has already raised 75 percent of the necessary funds.

“Everybody loves tie-dye, and wants to do something to help,” said Sami. “Everyone in my Pilates class has purchased tie-dyed socks to wear to class. I am thankful for all the support I have received.”

First exposed to the tie-dying process in an eighth-grade chemistry project, Sami has mixed pounds of brightly colored dyes and wrapped hundreds of rubber bands, to create unique color combinations and patterns. Family members and friends flew to Florida – some from as faraway as Los Angeles – to help the Boca Raton teen tie-dye her way to Nicaragua.

With the dinning room table and kitchen countertops covered in newspaper and tarps, the team spent a week repeating the lengthy tie-die process approximately 474 times. With the exception of volleyball practice that week from 3 to 6 p.m., Sami perfected the spiral, random, circle, and striped tie-dye methods.

“My husband and son thought we were absolutely nuts,” said Sindee Kerker, Sami’s mother and professor of Criminal Justice at Lynn University. “Originally, we had planned to tie-dye in the garage, but it was too hot in August to work there.”

After months of selling tie-dye shirts, sweatpants and socks, the mother-daughter team will travel to Nicaragua in December to paint the house Sami is raising funds to build.

“For $3,100, I could make a difference that could last a lifetime for a special family,” said Sami, who confessed the journey will take her outside of her comfort zone. “I am hoping to sell all of my tie-dying projects by the end of the year so I can use my profits to fund a house in Nicaragua.”

To make a donation toward Sami’s initiative or to purchase your own uniquely tie-dyed merchandise, please visit her Web site.

A donation of $2,600 can provide a one-room home to a destitute family. For $1,000, a latrine and shower stall will provide housing recipients with access to proper sanitation and privacy. Proper sanitation is essential to the health and welfare of a thriving family and helps prevent life-threatening illnesses.

Food For The Poor, the third-largest international relief and development organization in the nation, does much more than feed millions of hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This interdenominational Christian agency provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance, with more than 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.

Food For The Poor, Jamaican Diaspora Seek Closer Ties for South Florida Caribbean Communities

On Thursday, Nov. 18, Food for the Poor, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Jamaica, and the Jamaican Diaspora Advisory Board for Southern United States, will host an afternoon of thanksgiving and tour of the headquarters for Caribbean community diaspora organizations in South Florida.

The afternoon will begin with Thankful Thursday service followed by a panel presentation from Food For The Poor executives and field officers on best practices and resources for meeting the needs of the poor in the Caribbean. The event will be from 1 to 4 p.m., and will end with light refreshments and networking.

“Food For The Poor has a longstanding history and relationship with nations of the Caribbean. With the Thanksgiving season upon us, we wanted to share our blessings and lessons learned over the years in responding to the needs of the poorest of the poor,” said Robin Mahfood, Food For The Poor's President/CEO. “Diaspora community organizations have much to share and learn from each other in fostering our best response to disasters and to other areas of need in the respective countries of the region.”

Consul General Hon. Sandra Grant Griffiths said that the Consulate of Jamaica felt impelled to participate in such a gratifying and useful exercise. “The focus on effective, humanitarian assistance and human development management is fitting and always timely,” she said. “The particular vulnerability of our geographic region requires that we “as communities” become better equipped to be our brothers’ keepers.”

The commitment to improve access to education is a key initiative of Food For The Poor, and the session will focus especially on how the South Florida community can make the future brighter for thousands of children.

“The Caribbean community continues to grow exponentially across America. It is critical that community organizations build capacity and foster community partnerships to respond to the needs of their local diaspora communities and also to the needs of our respective countries of heritage. Food For The Poor epitomizes this example of organizational excellence. We have much to learn for the benefit of our communities,” stated Marlon Hill, Jamaican Diaspora Advisory Board member for the Southern United States.

Food For The Poor, the third-largest international relief and development organization in the nation, does much more than feed millions of hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This interdenominational Christian agency provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance, with more than 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.

Food For The Poor Installs Water Filtration Systems to Aid Prevention of Cholera

Food For The Poor’s 24-year tenure in Haiti has aided the nonprofit’s immediate response to the spread of cholera. As the threat of disease has loomed over Haiti’s recovery from January’s destructive earthquake, Food For The Poor remained committed to investing in sanitation and water projects throughout the country.

“Where Food For The Poor has installed water treatment systems prior to this crisis we have not heard of a single reported case of cholera,” said Daniel Rouzier, the Chairman of Food For The Poor-Haiti, who is coordinating Food For The Poor’s in country response.

The strategy of providing long-term solutions through water filtration systems and permanent housing has benefited regions where Food For The Poor works. The filtration systems each can treat up to 10,000 gallons of water per day and reduce waterborne diseases by removing suspended pathogens. Water filtration units are operational in Poirier, Desdunes (2), Dokozel, Villard, Petit Reviere, Poteneau, Descarreaux, Marchands Dessalines, and Gros Chaudière.

“We have mobilized a good number of doctors and nurses to visit vulnerable areas,” wrote Father Duken Augustin, who partners with Food For The Poor in Cap-Haiten, Haiti. “We continue to fight. Please keep us in your prayers.”

Infected persons, seeking medical help have traveled south to the capital and north to Cap-Haitien, creating the potential for countrywide contamination – to the point where the neighbor country, the Dominican Republic, has closed its border.

Access to clean water is a matter of life and death for the people of Haiti. Food For The Poor moved quickly to install 10 solar-powered filtration units in Haiti’s affected Artibonite region and mobilized the distribution of bottled water by the container. Water Missions International in partnership with Food For The Poor has helped to install the water filtration units. An additional 10 water filtration units will be air freighted and installed in the Artibonite region, for a total of 20 since the cholera outbreak.

“Cholera and malaria do not kill people in First World countries where there is access to medicine,” said Angel Aloma, Food For The Poor’s Executive Director. “In Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, destitute children are often emaciated and their immune systems are compromised. If the disease is not contained, the problem could expand well beyond its current bounds.”

Pit latrines and sanitation blocks that include both toilets and shower stalls are critically needed to prevent the spread of dysentery, cholera and malaria. Food For The Poor’s permanent homes are constructed to meet these standards.

“Water from the rivers, where the majority of the people find water to drink, bathe, cook and wash, is the same river where animals drink, bathe and defecate,” said Aloma.

Critical items being sent are:
  • Medicines, including antibiotics and oral rehydration salts. These will be airlifted.
  • Hygiene kits with soap, toothpaste and other personal care items to help prevent spread of disease. The distribution of prepositioned supplies in the Port-au-Prince distribution center has been initiated. Approximately 31,000 personal care and hygiene kits were shipped from the Coconut Creek distribution center on Friday.
  • Blankets for more than 46,600 people. Shipment left Food For The Poor’s Coconut Creek distribution center today.
  • Powerade and Pedialyte.
To learn how to help, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org/emergency.

Food For The Poor, the third-largest international relief and development organization in the nation, does much more than feed millions of the hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This interdenominational Christian agency provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance, with more than 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Food For The Poor Photographer’s Work Goes on Exhibit

A powerful look at the harsh reality of what life is like for some in the Caribbean and Central America has been captured in photos by Food For The Poor’s staff photographer Benjamin Rusnak.

Rusnak’s talents are used to document the life of the poorest of the poor, ultimately bringing into focus the lack of basic human needs, and ways that all of us can help. In May, Rusnak’s photo of little a girl in one of Guatemala’s massive garbage dumps was selected as the photo of the year by InterAction, an aid coalition based out of Washington, D.C.

Rusnak’s alma mater, George Mason University outside Washington, D.C. in Fairfax, Va., will showcase his work as a humanitarian photojournalist in a special exhibit: Dreams & Tempests 2007-2010. The 1992 graduate says he’s excited about returning to the place where it all started 18 years ago, and is hoping his work will make an impact on those who see it.

“It is my hope that in this body of work I have been able to transcend the traditional use of the panoramic photograph, creating not only landscapes, but also peoplescapes in a new and intimate way,” said Rusnak. “This is a world that is at once gritty and beautiful because of the dignity, faith and endurance of the impoverished people that I have the opportunity and privilege to photograph.”

Since 2000, Rusnak has documented poverty for Food For The Poor, the largest international relief and development agency in the United States, based in Coconut Creek, Fla. His decade of experience as a newspaper photographer prior to joining the charity has proved vital in helping him to capture the powerful images of life in the developing world.

“Ben’s photos help us tell the story of need, and also of hope and promise in a powerful way,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor. “Ben serves as the eyes of those who cannot travel with us, and helps us call attention to the needs of the poor.”

The exhibition opens Monday, Nov. 1, 2010 and will be on display for two weeks at George Mason University’s Gallery 123 located in the Johnson Center from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. It is open to the public, but weekends are by appointment. Rusnak will be on campus to speak about his exhibit Monday, Nov.8, 2010 at 2 p.m.

Samples of Rusnak’s work is available on Food For The Poor's Web site.

Food For The Poor, is one of the largest international relief and development organization in the nation, does much more than feed millions of hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This interdenominational Christian agency provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance, with more than 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.

Conditions in Haiti Worsen, CDC Investigates Spread of Disease

In response to reports that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating sudden multiple deaths in Haiti’s Artibonite region, Food For The Poor has started to secure and ship critically needed supplies.

Areas receiving immediate aid from Food For The Poor include, Poirier, Desdunes, Dokozel, Villard and Petit Reviere.

Critical items being sent are:
1) Medicines, including antibiotics and oral rehydration salts. Oral vaccinations may be necessary if the disease is identified as cholera.
2) Water filtration units that purify up to 10,000 gallons of clean water a day. Five units are being deployed from the Food For The Poor Port-au-Prince distribution center. Emergency water packets also will be shipped.
3) Hygiene kits with soap, toothpaste and other personal care items to help prevent spread of disease. Some supplies are prepositioned in the Port-au-Prince distribution center and an additional 57 pallets are ready to ship from the Coconut Creek distribution center starting Friday.
4) Blankets.
5) Gatorade and Pedialyte.

Due to the relatively quiet hurricane season in the Caribbean, Food For The Poor’s pre-positioned emergency relief items such as blankets and hygiene kits are ready to go. Food For The Poor plans to airfreight donations of antibiotics, oral rehydration salts, oral vaccinations, Gatorade and Pedialyte.

“January’s earthquake displaced more than one million people,” said Robin Mahfood, Food For The Poor’s President/CEO. “People in Haiti desperately need our help. Today in Haiti, destitute families have no option other than to live in garbage-filled swamps, and drink contaminated water – the same water they and the wild animals use to bathe. We have been afraid of this since the earthquake. We are praying for the people of Haiti, and we ask that everyone do the same.”

Food For The Poor, the third-largest international relief and development organization in the nation, does much more than feed millions of hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This interdenominational Christian agency provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance, with more than 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor.

For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Fulton County 6-Year-Old Boy Sets Giving Pace for Atlanta Gala

With his hair neatly brushed, and his button-down shirt tucked-in, Will Merchant, 6, confidently entered the W. Atlanta – Buckhead hotel to deliver an original piece of his artwork and a $500 check to representatives of the international relief and development organization Food For The Poor.

Before the Atlanta gala started, Angel Aloma, Food For The Poor’s Executive Director, had not only an opportunity to speak to the bighearted boy, but also the privilege of receiving his thoughtful gifts. Later that evening, as Aloma addressed attendees, he beamed proudly as he shared Will’s message of spirit and love.

The youngster’s generosity warmed hearts and reaffirmed the importance of investing in children’s futures. Proceeds from this year’s annual Atlanta Food For The Poor event, New Hope, New Beginnings, will be used to build schools in Jamaica. As master of ceremonies, the Emmy Award Winner, Jovita Moore, from WSB-TV Channel 2 Action News, emphasized the importance of an education.

Funds raised at the event will be used to construct Mount Hindmost Basic School in Clarendon, Jamaica, and water and sanitation projects will replace dangerous pit-latrines at existing schools. Educational opportunities like safe facilities, and supplies, like folding desks and reading books, give impoverished families island-wide hope for the future.

Will was inspired to help victims of Haiti’s catastrophic earthquake when he heard other children calling Atlanta’s 104.7 The Fish, to donate their allowance or do odd jobs to raise money for the cause. To meet his goal, Will sold his paintings to neighbors, friends and family members.

When asked why he decided to help those he had never met before, Will said, “God led me in my heart to do that.”

“We were so delighted to see Will take such a heartfelt interest in helping the earthquake victims,” said Beth Merchant, Will’s mom. “Our hope is that Will remembers how meaningful this experience has been for him and others around him. We can’t wait to see where his heart takes him next.”

The evening included live music by Lethal Rhythms, a silent auction, dancing, and a memorable dinner with friends prepared by principal sponsors W Atlanta - Buckhead and MARKET. Bidding on silent auction prizes such as exclusive art and collectibles from the Caribbean and Latin America, designer jewelry, vacations, golf and dining packages offered opportunities for guests to shop and donate to the cause. Aroma Ridge, Inc. rum cakes were distributed to event guests as they left the party.

“It feels so good to support an organization that is fiscally sound; more than 96 percent of all its donations go to programs that help the poor,” said Lynn Hanna, event committee member.

“In poor Jamaican communities, schools can offer children an oasis for learning,” said Nawal Shadeed, Event Chairwoman. “School for these children is essential. Through education, they can escape the poverty that surrounds them.”

“The time I spent on the event was enjoyable and well worth it,” said Sarah Overstreet, event committee member. “A society is judged by how well we treat the less fortunate among us.”

New Hope, New Beginnings committee members include Susie Hagley, Lynn Hanna, Sylvia McClure, Kathy Murphy, Sarah Overstreet, Dr. Jason Regis, Carolyn Shadeed, Arlene Smith, Margaret Stenglein, and Michelle Wattley.

Event sponsors included: American Nicaraguan Foundation, The Coca-Cola Company, The Pereira Family and Toca Enterprises, LTd.

Food For The Poor, the third-largest international relief and development organization in the nation, does much more than feed millions of the hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This interdenominational Christian agency provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance, with more than 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Food For The Poor Offers ‘Live Prayer’ iPhone App

Have you ever needed the power of prayer? The first ever “Live Prayer” iPhone app is now available for download by texting “Prayer” to 69866 or by visiting Food For The Poor's Web site. The app, presented by Food For The Poor, the largest international relief and development organization in the United States, is free.

Whether you are faced with a challenging day, grueling decision or have a blessing to celebrate, Food For The Poor’s “Live Prayer” iPhone app will connect you to a prayer partner within minutes. A team of prayer associates are standing by to pray with you in a secure, private, one-on-one phone call. To make a prayer request simply enter your name and phone number and you will receive a return call within five minutes.

“Food For The Poor’s ministry is a reflection of God’s unconditional love,” said Robin Mahfood, Food For The Poor’s President/CEO. “Through the prayers of Food For The Poor’s donors and recipients, we as a charity have grown and prospered during the past 28 years. It is our desire to support anyone in need of prayer.”

In addition to the “Live Prayer” functionality, users can also learn about Food For The Poor, make donations to the charity, and receive special news and event notifications. A weekly scripture and prayer is also accessible through the app.

Live prayer will be offered Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays between 9 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. EST, and on Wednesdays and Fridays, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST.

The “Live Prayer” app was developed by Sourcebits, a software development company in Atlanta, and an Android “Live Prayer” app is currently under discussion. The apps donation pages are hosted by Convio, a leading provider of software solutions to the nonprofit sector, based in Austin, Texas.

Food For The Poor, the largest international relief and development organization in the nation, does much more than feed millions of hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This interdenominational Christian agency provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance, with more than 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Nine Months After Earthquake: Rebuilding Lives

Food For The Poor has sent more than $155 million in aid to Haiti, since the 7.0 magnitude - earthquake devastated the country on Jan.12. The organization responded immediately and help has flowed continually from the largest international charity in the United States. That aid has come in many forms, and has transitioned over the weeks and months from emergency relief to relief/rebuilding actions.

The charity continues to accelerate homebuilding in the earthquake-ravaged country of Haiti, and has built 1,174 permanent two-room homes outside of Port-au-Prince.

More than 250 two-room homes are currently under construction.

Because the organization has been working in Haiti for more than 24 years, it was well-prepared to respond when the earthquake struck. Over the years, Food For The Poor has built almost 14,000 homes in Haiti.

Building schools

On Nov. 5, Food For The Poor will celebrate the opening of a school in Petit Goave, the first school the charity will have opened since the earthquake.

More than 100 students will benefit from the school. Several Palm Beach County Country Club managers raised the money to make this dream a reality and will travel there with Food For The Poor for the school’s inauguration.
The Haitian government estimates that more than 4,000 schools were destroyed during the earthquake. Food For The Poor is committed to rebuilding schools in Haiti, and has others under construction in Pierre Payen and Chastenoye.

Statement from President/CEO

“It is disturbing to me when I read that over a million people remain in tents in Haiti, nine months after the earthquake. We are committed to rebuilding Haiti and we are backing that up every day with new homes that promise hope and a future for those who already have suffered so much,” said Robin Mahfood, President/CEO of Food For The Poor. “We must help these people, and we must continue to find ways to help them faster. We need everyone’s help.”

Food For The Poor, the largest international relief and development organization in the nation, does much more than feed millions of hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This interdenominational Christian agency provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance, with more than 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Teen Preparing for Confirmation Helps to Feed Children in Haiti

Never underestimate the power of one; that is the lesson many in a New Jersey parish are learning from one of its young members.

Last fall, 13-year-old Samantha Tallard needed a community service project to complete a requirement for Confirmation. Like many around the world, the teen was moved by the devastation a 7.0 magnitude earthquake caused in Haiti nearly nine months ago.

“I wanted to choose a project for community service that would make a difference for other people instead of putting in my hours for a lot of little projects,” said Tallard. “At the time when I needed to make my decision I heard about the earthquake in Haiti. I saw videos of what the children were going through and it made me feel really sad.”

So she decided to partner with Food For The Poor, which has been working in Haiti for more than 24 years.

Samantha organized a raffle to raise money for the children of Haiti. With her goal in mind, she went to retailers in her area – Target, Best Buy, Walmart, and even to the New Jersey Devils Hockey team – for donations.

Samantha received an iPod, 2 digital cameras, a number of gift cards, and even an autographed hockey stick for her raffle. Dr. Anthony Novembre, the Director of Religious Education, printed the raffle tickets which were sold for $1 each before the start of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine class.

The young girl quickly surpassed her original goal and set a new one. In the end, Samantha raised enough money to feed 300 children for a month in Haiti. She presented the check to Fr. Richard Nahman, who accepted the gift on behalf of Food For The Poor at St. Catherine of Siena in Farmingdale in September. The charity will use the money collected to fulfill Samantha’s desire to help Haiti.

“I had no idea when I raised this amount of money that I would be able to help so many people because that same amount wouldn’t buy nearly that much food in our country,” said Tallard.

Food For The Poor, the largest international relief and development organization in the nation, does much more than feed millions of hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This interdenominational Christian agency provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance, with more than 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org