Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Mother's Day gifts

Be a Child’s Guardian Angel this Mother’s Day

More than 900 children in the program are waiting for a sponsor to give them the love, encouragement and kindness they deserve.
For $34 a month you can sponsor an orphaned or abandoned child hope through Food For The Poor's Angels Of Hope program.

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COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (April 28, 2015) – Food For The Poor’s Spring 2015 Gift Catalog has been released in time to help you find the perfect Mother’s Day gift. Photographs beautifully illustrate how the gifts featured in the charity’s gift catalog are uniquely designed to improve the lives of poverty-stricken children and families that struggle to survive in developing countries.

This Mother’s Day, choose to honor Mom by pledging to sponsor an orphan in her name through Food For The Poor’s Angels Of Hope program. For $34 a month, you can serve as a guardian angel to a child in need.

Thousands of orphaned and abandoned children in Food For The Poor’s Angels Of Hope orphanages depend on loving sponsors to provide their basic needs every month. More than 900 children in the program are waiting for a sponsor to give them the love, encouragement and kindness they deserve.

“Your sponsorship will serve as a symbol of hope to your sponsored child, assuring them that they are not alone, no matter what hardships they may have encountered,” said Robin Mahfood, President/CEO of Food For The Poor. “I thank everyone who answers the call to serve as a child’s guardian angel. May God bless you for the joy and laughter your compassion will pour into the lives of these children.”

Angels Of Hope staff members travel approximately twice a month to Food For The Poor-sponsored orphanages. While in-country, they update rosters, photograph the children, deliver mail from sponsors and collect letters from the children to mail to their sponsors. They also meet with in-country staff coordinators, and visit homes who have applied to participate in the Angels Of Hope program.

The desire to alleviate poverty epitomizes the spirit of giving in Food For The Poor’s catalog. Even if you are a student, Food For The Poor’s gift catalog offers meaningful ideas for your special Mom, while remaining within your budget. For $20, you can provide a year’s worth of school supplies, or for $90, you can show Mom she raised a good “kid” by giving a goat in her honor for a family in need.

Because Food For The Poor acquires food in large quantities, you can feed a starving family for just $14.60 a month, or a hungry child for a whole year for $43.80.

Food For The Poor also remains committed to moving destitute families out of unsafe living conditions, and into new, permanent homes. A gift of $3,200 will build a single-unit home with sanitation and give children a chance for better futures.

Food For The Poor, named by The Chronicle of Philanthropy as the 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 ministry 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 95 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.

Monday, April 27, 2015

Annual report

Food For The Poor Releases 2014 Annual Report

9.6 million pounds of canned and other life-sustaining foods were delivered to the hungry.
More than 9 million pounds of canned and other life-sustaining foods were delivered to the hungry.

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COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (April 27, 2015) – Food For The Poor, named by The Chronicle of Philanthropy as the nation’s largest international relief and development agency, released today its 2014 Annual Report. Last year, the charity shipped 3,914 containers of essential goods, and provided more than $910 million in aid to poverty-stricken children and families that struggle to survive.

With a grateful heart, Food For The Poor thanks its donors and partners for their 33 years of support, which has transformed the lives of millions of destitute families in the Caribbean and Latin America. By delivering food to the starving, housing for those who need shelter, and providing clean drinking water to the thirsty, the impact of Food For The Poor’s lifesaving work provides hope for the future.

 “The 2014 Annual Report highlights how Food For The Poor’s generous donors have helped to transform the lives of those we serve,” said Robin Mahfood, President/CEO of Food For The Poor. “It is only through God’s grace and your goodness that we are able to distribute desperately needed aid.”

Food For The Poor is a good steward of donations, and strives to strategically use contributions the most efficient way possible. In 2014, fundraising and other administrative costs made up less than 5% of Food For The Poor’s expenses, with more than 95% of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor.

To watch a video that illustrates the impact donors made in 2014 visit: www.FoodForThePoor.org/impact.

Other highlights from Food For The Poor’s 2014 Annual Report:

  • More than 30.3 million pounds of rice, 12.9 million pounds of beans, 9.6 million pounds of canned and other life-sustaining foods were delivered to the hungry.
  • Fishing village initiatives, aquaculture ponds, fruit tree planting projects, animal husbandry and agricultural programs continue to provide food and income and help to create self-sustaining communities.
  • More than 100,000 housing units have been built since 1985, with 7,367 built in 2014 alone. The greatest number of homes were built in Jamaica (2,057 housing units), Honduras (1,812), Haiti (1,774), and Nicaragua (1,594).
  • Food For The Poor continues to build schools, training centers, and clinics, and to support homes for orphans and the aged. More than 430 containers of educational supplies were shipped in 2014.
  • More than 600 containers of medicines and medical supplies were shipped.
More than 900 children are waiting to receive their loving sponsor through Food For The Poor’s Angels Of Hope program. Caring donors to the organization sponsored more than 3,270 children in 134 orphanages in 2014 through the program.

Food For The Poor, named by The Chronicle of Philanthropy as the 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 ministry 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 95 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.

Friday, April 17, 2015

We love our volunteers

Food For The Poor Celebrates Donors and Volunteers Year Round

Tim Thoman and Taylor Thoman wash the feet of children at a Food For The Poor-sponsored orphanage in Haiti, the week of March 16. Photo/ Jim Christie.
(L to R) Tim Thoman and Maria Thoman wash the feet of children at a Food For The Poor-sponsored orphanage in Haiti, the week of March 16. Photo/Jim Christie

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COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (April 17, 2015) – As National Volunteer Week concludes, Food For The Poor would like to again thank all of its dedicated volunteers and generous donors for taking action to improve the lives of destitute families.

“Each year, hundreds of donors travel with Food For The Poor to developing countries to lend a hand, while others donate time, money, and other resources to fundraise for specific causes,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor. “Their contributions remind us daily that each and every one of us is a part of a global village, where just one person can positively impact the lives of many others in very real and meaningful ways.”

Tim Thoman, President and Founder of Performance Services, is familiar with Food For The Poor’s mission, and has established three villages in Haiti. Most recently, through employer-matching gifts Performance Services contributed the funds to establish a fishing village and water cistern in Gros Mangle, Haiti. 

On March 19, Tim, his daughter Taylor Thoman, and a group of their friends entered the Cap-Haitien prison during a Food For The Poor mission trip to pay the fines of 15 nonviolent offenders.

“We have all heard of Third World prisons, but seeing one is another experience altogether,” said Jim Christie, a Business Development Manager at Performance Services. “There were faces pressed against the cell bars and heavy metal mesh fencing with several arms and hands sticking out of small holes in the fencing. The cell was so dense with the faces and bodies pressing against the bars that you could not see light coming through from behind the prisoners.”

Before traveling to Haiti with Food For The Poor, Taylor, a sophomore at Purdue University, helped to design and sell T-shirts to raise money to provide meals for the people of Gros Mangle, and to pay the small fines of prisoners in the Cap-Haitien barracks.

The T-shirt design of a mahi-mahi jumping over the island nation of Haiti with the message “casting hope” illustrates the notion that education is essential to eradicating poverty. The back of the bright teal T-shirt is the proverb “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”

The money Performance Services raised through T-shirt sales paid the $327 fine to release a 13-year-old who broke a car window while throwing stones with friends.

The young man, who had been incarcerated for more than a month, said, “My parents are unable to come to my aid. That’s why I am so sad. But in the cell of the prison, I learned how to pray. I ask you to pray for me, my family, my friends, especially those who were in the same cell.”

In addition to the gift of presence, here are more ideas of how you can make a difference:  

  • Become a Champion For The Poor:
    Food For The Poor’s personal fundraising program encourages donors to create their own personalized web pages for causes close to their hearts. There are ten distinct categories; Birthdays, Anniversaries, Weddings, Graduations, Individual Causes, Group Causes, In Loving Memory, Faith-based, Rebuild Haiti, and Businesses Giving Back.
  • Involve Your Church, School or Community Organization:
    Students from elementary to college can find creative ways to raise funds through events on campus and within their communities.
  • Become a corporate volunteer:
    Get involved in fundraising, and travel to the countries we serve to do hands-on projects.
  • Consider Planned Giving:
    Donors can help others while making prudent and beneficial financial choices for themselves and family members.
  • Check for Employer Matching Gifts:
    Food For The Poor encourages donors to ask their employers to match charitable donations.
  • Request a Speaker:
    Food For The Poor’s Speakers’ Bureau arranges speaking engagements for churches, organizes church and school mission projects, and manages national outreach projects.

For more information about Food For The Poor’s projects, causes, and programs for donors and volunteers, visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.

Food For The Poor, named by The Chronicle of Philanthropy as the 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 ministry 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 95 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.

Burn Loeffke builds homes in Jamaica

A Local Retired Major General Builds a Village in Jamaica

Aretta Dennis and Maj. Gen. Bernard Loeffke stand inside her
new home in the Peacemakers Community of Hope.
Aretta Dennis and Maj. Gen. Bernard Loeffke stand inside her new home in the Peacemakers Community of Hope, located in the town of Spring Pass in Hamstead, St.Thomas, Jamaica. Loeffke led an effort to rebuild 27 homes with sanitation through Food For The Poor.

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COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (April 17, 2015) – Nearly 200 people gathered recently for the dedication of the Peacemakers Community of Hope Village in the town of Spring Pass in Hamstead,  St. Thomas, Jamaica. Thanks to the sheer determination of retired Maj. Gen. Bernard “Burn“ Loeffke and Food For The Poor, 27 families now have a redeveloped community with sturdy new homes and hygienic sanitation.

“I used to be a fisherman, but during Hurricane Sandy in 2012, I lost everything and since then I have been doing odd jobs every now and then,” said Denville Clarke, a Spring Pass resident. “I couldn’t afford to repair or buy a house, so when Food For The Poor came to help me and others in the community, I was really, really happy and thankful. Words are not even enough to thank them for what they have done for this community.”

Loeffke, who now calls South Florida home, is an impressive man with a military career that spans more than three decades. Fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, Russian and French, and proficient in Mandarin Chinese, Loeffke was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds in combat, as well as Silver and Bronze Stars for Valor. He also has authored several inspirational books.

But it was the inspiring story of the teen Food For The Poor donor, Rachel Wheeler, who touched the heart of this warrior for peace. Starting at age 9, Rachel fundraised to build a village and school in Haiti.

“When I heard about the young girl who built two villages, I thought surely I can build one to honor two men who personified what it means to give their lives on behalf of their fellow man. U.S. Army Sgt. Larry Morford and China’s Cpl. Lei Feng are these men. Morford saved my life in Vietnam, now I am living his,” said Loeffke. “I was very impressed with seeing the work done by Food For The Poor in putting a roof over the heads of the needy and giving them the pride of ownership.”

Loeffke dedicated the Peacemakers Community of Hope in honor of these two soldiers. Both Morford and Lei Feng died at the age of 22 – men, he says, who lived to be agents of peace in the midst of war. Loeffke says he chose Jamaica because it is the birthplace of Food For The Poor and is the homeland of the parents of another general, his dear friend Gen. Colin L. Powell, who supported the community.

“I am glad I had the opportunity to help with the project. I offer my congratulations to Chris Wallace, my friend Burn Loeffke and all the other committed people who are bringing this project to fruition,” said Gen. Colin L. Powell.

Life for more than two dozen families living within Spring Pass has not been easy. The need for safe housing and sanitation was dire. Last summer, an outbreak of the Chikungunya virus, a mosquito-borne disease that causes fever and excruciating joint pain in its victims, ripped through Spring Pass. 

“The redevelopment of the Spring Pass community is truly a blessing for the 30 or so families. These families have been living for many years in makeshift shacks, and their only water source for drinking, cooking, cleaning and washing came from a single pipe located in the middle of the town. No one should have to live like that,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor. “Loeffke’s passion for the poor has resulted in the Peacemakers Community of Hope, a community that has restored hope to these families by providing them with safe new homes and access to running water. For that, we are truly grateful.”

Loeffke’s desire to improve the lives of the poor extends beyond the borders of Jamaica. Fundraising for Peacemakers Community of Hope villages in Central America is in the works. So far, enough funds have been raised for the construction of 10 homes in Nicaragua, and plans are under way for a village in Honduras.

“The Peacemakers Community of Hope is the first of several villages that we want to do to honor the memory of John Gardener, former Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare under President Lyndon Johnson and Founder of the White House Fellows,” said Loeffke. “He authored the statement that ‘a real leader is the one who keeps hope alive,’ and that’s what we’re doing with Food For the Poor – keeping hope alive.”

Loeffke plans to share his recent experience with Food For The Poor at the 50th Anniversary of White House Fellows 2015 Leadership Conference in the Washington, D.C., October 22-24.

Food For The Poor, named by The Chronicle of Philanthropy as the 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 ministry 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 95 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Geneva 5K

Screening of Girl Rising Sets Pace for Fourth Annual 5K Walk/Run in Geneva

Money from the screening of Girl Rising at The Arcada Theatre in Saint Charles, Illinois, will provide life-changing educational opportunities for 82 children in Haiti.
Money from the screening of Girl Rising at The Arcada Theatre in Saint Charles, Illinois, will provide life-changing educational opportunities for 82 children in Haiti.

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COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (April 14, 2015) – Money from the screening of Girl Rising at The Arcada Theatre in Saint Charles, Illinois, will provide life-changing educational opportunities for 82 children in Haiti. The film has set the pace for the Hope For Haitians 5K Walk/Run For Education in Geneva, Illinois, which will fund yearly scholarships for children in Hope Friendship Village in Chastenoye, in Cap-Haitien, Haiti.

Girl Rising explores the power of education, as it documents the lives of nine girls born into unforgiving circumstances who courageously revolt against cultural norms to follow their dreams.

“Most people do not realize that there is no such thing as a free education for children in developing countries. One of the first steps necessary to break the cycle of poverty is a basic education,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor. “If a child’s parent doesn’t have the money for tuition, the uniform, or the school supplies – then that child does not attend school.”

With a month remaining, now is the time to register for the fourth annual Hope For Haitians 5K Walk/Run For Education on Saturday, May 9, at 8:30 a.m. at Kane County Government Center, 719 S. Batavia Avenue (Route 31), Geneva, Illinois.

Pre-registration is $25 for adults (13+), and is free for participants 12 and under. Registration is $30 for adults on the day of the event. All registered participants will receive a T-shirt, goodie bag, breakfast and access to activities for children. Registration is available online at www.FoodForThePoor.org/geneva.

For more information on the Hope For Haitians 5K Walk/Run For Education, contact Amy McTeague at 630-730-0227 or email Rachel Piering at rachelp@foodfoorthepoor.org.  Registration starts at 7:30 a.m., the walk/run begins at 8:30 a.m. The course is chip-timed. Medallions will be presented to first, second and third place finishers in each age bracket for both male and female runners. Children’s age brackets include 10 and under, 11-14, and 15-19.

Since 2001, Food For The Poor and Hope For Haitians have collaborated to improve the lives of destitute families in Haiti. Through the construction of new homes with access to safe drinking water, the implementation of sustainable development projects, and the funding of medical and education programs, the lives of hundreds of thousands of people have been positively transformed throughout the country.

The pre-event was supported by Ron Onesti, CEO/President of The Arcada Theatre, and Rosary High School in Aurora, Illinois.

Principal 5K Walk/Run event sponsors are the Lorden Family, Lou Bachrodt Automall and Chick-Fil-A. Additional sponsors include Colour Line Hair Salon, DMK Dentistry, Geneva Cruise and Travel, Kane County Chronicle, Kelly Orthodontics, and The Fresh Market.

Food For The Poor, named by The Chronicle of Philanthropy as the 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 ministry 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 95 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.

Friday, April 10, 2015

Swank Farms dinner

Swank Farms in Palm Beach County.
Darrin Swank leads the tour through the Loxahatchee Groves' hydroponic growing house. Photo/ Joe Skipper

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COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (April 10, 2015) – The final chance this season to dine al fresco and savor enticing farm-to-table meals prepared by renowned chefs is April 26 at Swank Specialty Produce, 14311 North Road, Loxahatchee, Fla. 33470. The Swank Table dinner theme is “Prime Cuts: A Beef Lover’s Paradise,” and proceeds will benefit Food For The Poor.

“We want to close the season with a bang. The meal is basically seven courses with dessert,” said Jodi Swank, who owns the farm with her husband Darrin. The dinner series began five years ago when Jodi hosted a dinner at the farm. Today the dinner series includes seven, sold-out events.

Guests will be greeted with a signature welcome drink prepared by Ryan Zemel, manager of Buccan, in Palm Beach, and sparkling nonalcoholic flavored water will be served by onli™ Beverages. Following bites by Whole Foods Market, guests will tour the Loxahatchee Groves’ hydroponic growing houses. Zucchini, squash, carrots and radishes will all be in season.

The family-style dinner in the Swank’s pole barn pays tribute to beef lovers, with chefs Chris Miracolo (S3, Fort Lauderdale); Isaac Cerny (Pistache French Bistro, West Palm Beach); Blake Malatesta (50 Ocean, Delray Beach); Jerry Valvano (Ganache 316, Boca Raton); Ryan Zemel (Buccan, Palm Beach); and sommelier Chris Birnie-Visscher. The event beverage sponsor Premier Beverage Company, LLC, and South Florida’s largest craft microbrewery, The Funky Buddha Brewery, will be on hand to serve wine and micro-crafts.

Entertainment will include a performance by The Andrew Morris Band, a country music band from South Florida.

Each ticket costs $155, and the dinner will be held rain or shine. To order tickets, please visit www.swankspecialtyproduce.com.

Food For The Poor, named by The Chronicle of Philanthropy as the 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 ministry 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 95 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Chlune’s Journey

Chlune’s Life-Changing Journey from Haiti to Boston

Food For The Poor celebrates 33 years of service.
Suzan and John Driscoll at Massachusetts Hospital School with Chlune on March 30, 2015.

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COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (April 2, 2015) As millions worldwide prepare for what is considered by many the holiest day of the year, this Easter Sunday will be even more special for one Boston-area family and an 8-year-old Haitian girl who captured their hearts.

Chlune Dorviler‘s life has been forever transformed by the kindness of a loving couple. John and Suzan Driscoll are preparing a special kind of hospitality for a loving little girl whom they affectionately refer to as their “little angel.”

In 2013, longtime Food For The Poor supporter John Driscoll took his first mission trip to Haiti with the charity. On his second trip to the Caribbean nation in April 2014, this time with his wife Suzan at his side, he visited the Little Children of Jesus orphanage. While there, they caught sight of a jovial little girl chatting and laughing with Food For The Poor-Haiti Missions & Travel Officer Huguette Guerre, who would later play a vital role in Chlune’s journey.

Chlune was born in Torbeck, Les Cayes, Haiti, in 2006. She has hydrocephaly, which is the buildup of excess fluid in the brain. By the time Chlune was 5, the weight of her head was approximately 25 pounds. Three years ago, after it was determined by her family they could not provide for her care, she was sent to live at the Little Children of Jesus orphanage near Port-au-Prince, which is supported by Food For The Poor.

Suzan, a retired educator, was moved by what she saw and told her husband they had to help this child with the magnetic personality to get the medical care she desperately needed.

“My wife has worked with special needs children her whole life, setting a wonderful example for our family,” said John. “God has been so good to me and my family. I feel it’s my obligation to help others to achieve a better quality of life.” 

After eight months of planning, an international patient placement operation was set in motion. With the support of doctors at Boston Children’s Hospital, who had agreed to treat her, Chlune arrived in Massachusetts from Haiti, on Dec. 8, 2014 with her father, Vanel Dorviler, and Madame Guerre to serve as their interpreter.

The John and Suzan Driscoll Family Foundation, through Food For The Poor, paid for Chlune’s travel and some of the medical expenses, along with the travel and room and board of Chlune’s father. Sadly, three days after her arrival, Chlune began having seizures and was placed in a medically induced coma. That’s when doctors determined there was nothing more they could do surgically.

Chlune’s father was disappointed when he learned that no surgery would take place. However, John and Suzan were adamant that Chlune would not return to Haiti in the same condition she arrived. Providing her with a better life became their focus.

“The Little Children of Jesus orphanage is a blessing beyond words for dozens of children, many who have severe physical disabilities,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor. “The loving staff at the orphanage is giving these children the best care possible, but life in Haiti is not easy and it is especially difficult for a child who needs constant medical care. What the Driscoll family is doing for Chlune is truly a miracle for this vibrant little girl.” 

After her recovery in the hospital, a number of possibilities were explored. On Jan. 20, 2015, Chlune was admitted to the Massachusetts Hospital School in Canton, a beautiful campus that is home to 95 physically disabled children and teens. Chlune, unlike some children who have received minimal treatment for hydrocephaly, has good cognitive skills and is receiving one-on-one care from physicians, therapists, and educators.

Chlune’s father Vanel and Madame Guerre have since returned to Haiti, but not before witnessing the miraculous milestones in her young life. She can sit up longer, feed herself, and color in books. Chlune loves attending school and is even learning to speak English. Her father, who has the necessary visa to come and visit her from Haiti, is overwhelmed by the support of the Massachusetts Hospital School and the generosity of the Driscolls, who have fallen in love with his daughter.

“This has been a team effort with so many people working together to help this little girl. We can’t thank them enough,” said John Driscoll. “I have been a supporter of many causes my entire life, but to be available to help someone on a personal level is so much more gratifying than giving money.”

On Saturday, the Driscolls will make the 40-mile drive to Massachusetts Hospital School and surprise Chlune with an overnight stay at their North Reading home, where a lovely dress and shoes await her. Dr. Gerald Paul and his wife Gertrude, who befriended the Driscolls during Chlune’s stay at Boston Children’s Hospital, also are invited. 

On Sunday morning, Chlule will attend her first Easter Service in America with the Driscolls and their five grandsons, along with the Paul family, an event no one could have ever imagined one year ago.

Food For The Poor, named by The Chronicle of Philanthropy as the 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 ministry 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 95 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Offenders Released for Easter

Food For The Poor Releases Nonviolent Prisoners for Easter's Holy Week

(L to R) David Mair, Food For The Poor-Jamaica Executive Director; and Sandra Ramsey, Food For The Poor’s Jamaica Prison Ministry Program manager, released prisoners at St. Catherine Adult Correctional Center who were jailed because of their inability to pay small fines.

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COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (April 1, 2015) – To prepare for Easter’s Holy Week, Food For The Poor donors offered second chances to 56 nonviolent prisoners in Jamaica (20), Honduras (16), Haiti (15), and Guyana (5). These prisoners, who were jailed because of their inability to pay small fines, are now able to celebrate the resurrection of Christ with their families.

“As the released inmates move from the darkness into the light, we pray they will recognize that God is merciful, and He is a God of second chances,” said Robin Mahfood, President/CEO of Food For The Poor. “You will open the eyes of the blind and set free those who sit in dark prisons…” (Isaiah 42:7, GNT).

On March 19 in Haiti, a Food For The Poor mission group entered the Cap-Haitien barracks to pay the fines of 15 nonviolent offenders.

“We have all heard of Third-World prisons, but seeing one is another experience altogether,” said Jim Christie, a Business Development Manager at Performance Services. “There were faces pressed against the cell bars and heavy metal mesh fencing with several arms and hands sticking out of small holes in the fencing. The cell was so dense with the faces and bodies pressing against the bars that you could not see light coming through from behind the prisoners.”

“Our prison ministry program included washing the feet of the prisoners, providing them a new pair of shoes through Samaritan’s Feet, praying over them for God’s graces, and then paying for their release back into society. The entire experience was overwhelming. The lack of hope in these prisoners’ eyes was extremely disturbing,” said Christie.

The Performance Services group paid the $327 fine to release a 13-year-old who broke a car window, while throwing stones with friends. The money had been raised through T-shirt sales before the mission trip.

The young man, who had been incarcerated for more than a month, said, “My parents are unable to come to my aid. That’s why I am so sad. But in the cell of the prison, I learned how to pray. I ask you to pray for me, my family, my friends, especially those who were in the same cell.”

In Guyana, another young prisoner was among the five inmates who were released on March 23 from Georgetown Prison and Timehri Prison.

The 17-year-old, a first-time offender who served 20 days of his six-week sentence for stealing a duck, was released after his fines were paid by Food For The Poor donors. The grateful young man told Food For The Poor-Guyana Chairman Paul Chan-a-Sue that he looks forward to being reunited with his mother and younger sisters.

Mahfood, who spoke to the freed prisoners by phone, cautioned and challenged them to never return to prison. The newly released prisoners were provided travel money and care packages.

A total of 20 inmates were released from several prisons and police stations in Jamaica on March 25 and 26. Many of the misdemeanors included traffic offenses and larceny.

The sole female inmate to be released in Jamaica was from Fort Augusta Adult Correctional Center.

“I was seated outside and a superintendent came up to me and said I should go in the chapel, so I obeyed her orders. Oh Jesus, I can’t tell you just how happy I was to hear my name, I had no idea that I would receive my freedom. I was trembling,” she said, with tears in her eyes. “When I heard my name I thought I was just getting a gift, then it was announced that Food For The Poor was paying my fine to leave the institution. I couldn’t even speak. I couldn’t move from my seat. I thank you all for this gift.”

“I want you to remember that everything in life works for your good once you have God as the center of your life,” said David Mair, Food For The Poor-Jamaica Executive Director, to inmates at St. Catherine Adult Correctional Center. “You should thank Him for this blessing you have received. I have worked for 18 years in corporate Jamaica, but in the eight months I have been at Food For The Poor, I have learned so much more as it relates to serving others. I consider Food For The Poor a strong arm for the Lord in this regard. To the inmates, I encourage you to help somebody just as you have been helped.”

While in prison, one inmate declined to receive the money his family sent to pay his fine, so his brother could receive medical treatment.

“I have a younger brother who is 14 years old,” said the 21-year-old, who was sentenced to 30 days for larceny. “While in prison, my mother told me that he was getting sick because of issues with asthma but she didn’t have the money to get him treatment. I love my brother dearly so I figured it was best for me to stay in prison and learn from my mistakes. It was better for me to live here for a while than to see my brother get severely sick, so I gave my mother the money to take care of his medical fees.”

When he learned that Food For The Poor was giving him a second chance, he said, “I appreciate this so much. I am really thankful for this assistance and I am really excited about going home to see my brother and mother.”

Since the inception of Food For The Poor’s Prison Ministry Program in Jamaica in 1998, the charity has assisted in freeing, training and reintroducing prisoners back into the community. Prison authorities have found Food For The Poor’s Prison Ministry Program to be so successful that they have implemented a similar program themselves. Some prisons now offer inmates jobs in the prison where they are held so that they can earn money to pay off their fines.

The final Easter prison release came on March 27 in Honduras. Sixteen prisoners wrote notes of gratitude to Food For The Poor donors, reflecting on past decisions, and the circumstances that led to their imprisonment.

Twice a year – during the week of Christmas and during Easter’s Holy Week – the Food For The Poor Prison Ministry Program releases inmates who have committed minor offenses. The ministry is based on the scripture, “…I was in prison and you visited me…,” (Matthew 25: 31-46).

To support Food For The Poor’s Prison Ministry Program, checks payable to Food For The Poor can be mailed to 6401 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek, Fla. 33073. Please include reference number “SC# 74122” to ensure your donation is correctly routed.

Food For The Poor, named by The Chronicle of Philanthropy as the 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 ministry 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 95 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.