Boca Grande Fundraiser

Boca Grande Committee Sets Its Sights on New Area to Help

	Hope for Haitians began working through Food For The Poor in 2009, and has built villages for families in Pierre Payen, Michaud, and Manneville, Haiti. These villages received recent upgrades, which included two dormitories for 20 boys and 20 girls who have aged out of the orphanage care programs in Boca Grande Friendship Village II, which is located in Michaud.
Related Item: View Photos of the New Construction

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Nov. 3, 2014) – The Boca Grande Hope for Haitians Committee began working through the international relief and development organization, Food For The Poor, in 2009, and has built villages for families in Pierre Payen, Michaud, and Manneville, Haiti.

Now, the Hope for Haitians Committee has turned its attention to Gressier, a coastal community located between Port-au-Prince and Leogane. The town's slowly crumbling infrastructure and overcrowding was a problem long before the Jan. 12, 2010 earthquake, but the region suffered a devastating blow when the 7.0 magnitude earthquake destroyed nearly 50 percent of the area's buildings, leaving the town in shambles.

Fear of aftershocks sent many families seeking refuge within the rural parts of Petit Boucan, Gressier, where they have set up tents and formed a community. Today, there are still 60 families living in this makeshift camp that has become a dangerous and unsanitary place, especially for children. The Hope for Haitians Committee wants to relocate families from these tents to permanent housing.

“We can't stop now. Even after five years, we still have thousands living in tents and these conditions are not good, in fact they are deplorable. That is why we must continue,” said Ben Scott, Chairman of the Boca Grande Hope for Haitians Committee.

As the five-year anniversary of the earthquake approaches, Food For The Poor's compassion for the Caribbean nation has never been stronger.

“For nearly three decades Food For The Poor has stood with Haiti through a number of natural disasters. Since the earthquake, Food For The Poor has built 4,957 homes. This organization is more determined than ever to see Haiti rise out of the ashes of despair that nearly destroyed a country, but not the faith of its people,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor. “None of the work we do would be possible if it were not for the support of our donors. The Boca Grande Hope for Haitians Committee has not only shared their resources, but they’ve traveled to Haiti and gotten to know the people who are the recipients of their loving kindness.” 

Earlier this year, Boca Grande Hope for Haitians funded a fourth project of 32 two-room homes with water and sanitation in the poor community of Pon Batay, which included two solar-powered street lamps, 32 individual solar-powered lamps and 32 goats. The villages in Pierre Payen and Michaud also received recent upgrades. These included a wall and play area for the elementary school in Pierre Payen.

In Michaud, two dormitories for 20 boys and 20 girls who have aged out of the orphanage were built, and a much-needed medical clinic is now complete. The lives of these children and families within these villages have been greatly transformed and their communities are thriving.

“Those who helped with this project over the last five years should feel good about the difference they’ve made in the lives of 167 very poor families,” said Scott. “Most of these families came from tent cities and were forced to live there because of the 2010 earthquake.”

The Boca Grande Hope for Haitians will have a fundraiser on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015 to build 30 more homes for the families in Petit Boucan, Gressier. Scott says he's prayerfully confident they will be able to raise enough funds to build these houses.

Committee members include: Chairmen Ben and Louise Scott, the Rev. Gary Beatty, the Rev. Brian Brightly, the Rev. Jerome Carosella, the Rev. Michelle Robertshaw, George and Lois Castrucci, Patricia Chapman, Randy and Sue Eddy, Charlie and Florita Field, Evelyn Finnegan, Lou and Corie Fusz, Stephen and Susan Jansen, Mick and Susan Johnson, Tom and Nancy Lorden, Colvin and Madelaine McCrady, Peter and Elsa Soderberg.

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.

Charity Wins Awards

Charity Wins Prestigious Awards for Water, Housing Campaigns

	Food For The Poor wins the Direct Marketing Association's prestigious GOLD 2014 International ECHO™ Ultimate Team Awards. The international relief and development organization was honored for its direct mail campaigns “I Thirst” and “The Book of Maudiel” during the 2014 ECHO™ Awards Ceremony & Gala at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, Calif., Tuesday night.
Related Items: See How Maudiel's Family Lives Watch Choupette's Trek to Get Water View Before and After Photographs

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Oct. 29, 2014) –  Access to clean drinking water and secure housing are out of reach for millions of children living in developing countries. For more than three decades, Food For The Poor has helped countless families by sharing their impactful stories through creative direct marketing campaigns.

The Direct Marketing Association has awarded Food For The Poor its GOLD 2014 DMA International ECHO™ Ultimate Team Awards for two of the charity’s direct marketing campaigns:

• “I Thirst” is the story of Choupette, a little girl in Haiti who had to leave her home early each day and trek down a rocky, treacherous mountainside to fill two one-gallon containers with contaminated, dirty water. Visit www.FoodForThePoor.org/quest to view a short video of Choupette's daily quest for water.
• “The Book of Maudiel” is the story of a little boy and his family who were in desperate need of safe and secure shelter in the rural mountains of Nicaragua. Visit www.FoodForThePoor.org/maudiel to view a short video about their dire living conditions.

The international relief and development organization was honored during the DMA 2014 International ECHO™ Awards Ceremony & Gala at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, Calif., Tuesday night.

“Food For The Poor is extremely thankful for the prestigious recognition it has received from the DMA. Our talented creative team devoted many work hours into authentically capturing and sharing the daily routines of life for these children and their families in a compassionate, effective way,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor. “More importantly, thousands of lives will be changed for the better because of generous donors’ response to these compelling stories of children in dire need.”

ECHO™ Awards honor excellence in creativity, marketing strategy and response results in data-driven marketing campaigns. More than 1,000 entries were submitted by agencies and advertisers worldwide.

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.

Movers and Shakers Honor

Food For The Poor Supporter and Charity to Receive Special Honor

	Jose Perez-Jones, Senior Vice President of Seaboard Marine, will be honored by South Florida Caribbean American Movers and Shakers.
Related Item: See What Donors Have Made Possible

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Sept. 26, 2014) – The 2014 South Florida Caribbean American Movers and Shakers will be honoring 12 civic-minded individuals, including longtime donor and supporter of Food For The Poor, Jose Perez-Jones, Senior Vice President of Seaboard Marine.  For more than three decades, Seaboard Marine has shipped thousands of containers filled with food and supplies, provided by Food For The Poor, to families in need throughout 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America.

Perez-Jones, born in Sancti Spíritus, Cuba, came to the United States when he was 11. Never forgetting the impression his Uncle Humberto Del Valle made on him 45 years ago, Perez-Jones’ dream of a shipping company became a reality in 1983. Today, Seaboard Marine serves 40 ports, including PortMiami, in 28 countries. Because of his compassion for the truly destitute, Perez-Jones formed a bond with Food For The Poor that continues to this day to benefit tens of thousands of families each year.

“For over 30 years, Seaboard Marine has nurtured and solidified a very meaningful and heartfelt friendship with Food for the Poor. We will proudly continue to support this outstanding and significant union by remaining motivated, committed, and action-driven,” said Perez-Jones. “It is in this spirit and culture that we have continued to have a lasting and caring relationship with the hopes of influencing a better life for all.”
The South Florida Caribbean American Movers and Shakers also will present this year’s Humanitarian Award to Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor.

“With the vast majority of our work taking place in the Caribbean it’s truly humbling to know that the South Florida community, especially those with a heritage that’s linked to the region, are responding to the wonderful work Food For The Poor is doing there,” said Aloma. “Thanks to the support of our compassionate and dedicated donors, this charity is impacting lives throughout the Caribbean in a very positive way.”
Since its inception, Food For The Poor has built more than 96,000 housing units and installed nearly 1,900 water wells or water components. The organization also builds schools and feeds thousands daily, and is committed to creating projects that ultimately place families onto the path toward self-sufficiency.

Perez-Jones’ commitment to the charity’s mission goes beyond shipping. Seaboard Marine has been a supporter of the organization’s annual Building Hope Gala in Boca Raton, Fla., since 2005. For the first time this year, Seaboard Marine will sponsor the organization’s annual 5K Walk/Run for Hunger on Saturday, Nov. 8, at T.Y. (Topeekeegee Yugnee) Park, 3300 North Park Road, Hollywood, Fla.
                                                                       
“Seaboard Marine considers all opportunities to assist those in need a social responsibility and a loving mandate. As consequence, we are always ready, engaged, and willing to contribute, specifically now with the 5K Walk/Run for Hunger,” said Perez-Jones.

Aloma and Perez-Jones are two of the 12 honorees, which include entertainers Gloria and Emilio Estefan. The event will be at the Frost Art Museum at 10975 SW 17th St., Miami, on the campus of Florida International University, Oct.10, 2014, 6 - 9 p.m.

This event is being held in conjunction with FIU’s Caribbean Student Association, one of the largest multi-cultural student associations in the nation. Click for a preview of the honorees www.foodforthepoor.org/honorees.

The 2014 Caribbean American Movers and Shakers Networking Series include award events throughout the year in Atlanta, New York City and Miami.

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.

Futbol Donations

	Students at Marverley Primary and Junior High School in Kingston, Jamaica, are grateful to have One World Futbols. With access to more soccer balls, the students can now spend more time practicing.
Related Item: See the Children at Play

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (June 25, 2014) – One World Futbol and Food For The Poor have kicked-off their partnership with the distribution of 11,400 soccer balls in Jamaica and 6,000 soccer balls in Nicaragua. The goal is to teach children in disadvantaged communities about the healing power of play, and to restore their ability to dream. This announcement comes as the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team prepares to face off with Germany in their last match of  group play in the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ in Brazil.

“Traveling in developing countries throughout the Caribbean and Latin America, we often see children in poor neighborhoods kicking empty bottles, cans, or whatever they can scrounge up in place of a soccer ball,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor.

Students at Marverley Primary and Junior High School used to play with a plastic bottle during recess until they received a donation of One World Futbols.

“The 15 balls received will make a big difference because we had none and we were actually wondering where we were going to get the funds to purchase what was needed, especially because there is no physical education budget at this time,” said Dorothy Taylor, Principal of Marverley Primary and Junior High School. “Now we have more than enough for the children to utilize. We can even include football as part of the extra-curricular sports activities for the summer school program.” 

“American soccer, also known as football in the countries we serve, is the most popular sport in the world,” said Aloma. “It’s a sport that is loved equally by the young and the old, the rich and the poor.”

Earlier this month, Bob Woodruff, co-anchor of ABC’s “World News Tonight,” recognized the inventors of the One World Futbol – Tim Jahnigen and his wife, Lisa Tarver – as they approach their goal to provide 1 million soccer balls to children throughout the world.

“It is a privilege to partner with One World Futbol to positively impact the lives of children worldwide,” said Aloma. “Every child should have the chance to experience the invigorating thrill of scoring a goal.”    

For every One World Futbol purchased, a second ball is donated to an organization that works with youth in disadvantaged communities worldwide. Unlike the average soccer ball that becomes worn over time, the One World Futbol is nearly indestructible. Even when punctured multiple times, it does not need a pump to inflate, and it never goes flat.

Richard Swanson, 42, also believed in One World Futbol’s mission to bring soccer balls to disadvantaged communities to foster social change. To raise money and awareness for the company's project, Swanson started to dribble a One World Futbol 10,000 miles to Brazil from Seattle to watch the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ games. Two weeks into the journey of a lifetime, Swanson was tragically hit by a pickup truck and died. For the duration of the World Cup 2014 donations can be made in his name at http://www.oneworldfutbol.com/campaigns/richardswanson/.

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.

Thanks its Donors for 32 Years of Love

	This mother and her children in Guyana were provided a new home by generous Food For The Poor donors. Since the charity's inception, more than 91,000 housing units have been built.
Related Item: See Your Donations at Work

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Feb. 12, 2014) – On its 32nd anniversary of serving the poor, Food For The Poor thanks its donors for what they have done for the most destitute in 17 countries in the Caribbean and Latin America. The ministry that started out as a feeding program in Jamaica has grown exponentially to become the largest international relief organization in the United States, with associated charities in Haiti, Guyana, Jamaica and Canada.

“Our donors truly have heard the cries of the poor. It is amazing to think what they have done for the very poorest of the poor for all of these years,” said Robin Mahfood, President/CEO of Food For The Poor. “Ranging from the smallest, most innocent child to the wisest elders of our community, our donors have one thing in common – huge hearts that have a place in them for the poor.”

The ministry, through its dedicated donors, has built more than 91,000 housing units, shipped almost 67,000 containers filled with essential goods, and delivered more than $10 billion in aid since its inception in 1982.  In 2013 alone, 33 schools were built or expanded, 12 of which were in Haiti, a country that lost most of its schools in the 2010 earthquake. Almost 300 water wells and other clean water projects were completed.

The charity’s desire to align ever more closely with its generous supporters resulted this year in a Pledge to Donors, written by Executive Director Angel Aloma. The pledge reads, in part:

Because you have a desire to give,
We have an opportunity to fulfill that desire.
Because you have choice in charitable giving,
Our service must be superior.
Because you have a sense of urgency,
We must act promptly.
Because you have expectations,
We must exceed them.

“An intense feeling of gratitude inspired me to write this for our donors in appreciation for their generosity and compassion, and my dream is that it inspires us to continue to work closely together for those who have nothing and are counting on us for their very lives,” Aloma said. The pledge can be read in its entirety at www.foodforthepoor.org/pledge

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.

Food For The Poor is Proud to Partner with TOMS

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (April 18, 2013) – Food For The Poor is proud to partner with TOMS to provide new shoes to children in some of the most impoverished areas of the Caribbean and Latin America. Children were so excited at one of the initial shoe distributions in Honduras that they stormed the beach to help unload boxes of TOMS Shoes from boats that had just arrived. Hoisting the boxes on their shoulders and hauling them in wheelbarrows, the children raced to the school, hoping to be first in line.

“One child was so overwhelmed by the newness and cleanness of the shoes that he did not want to put them on,” said Juan Ramon, the Cortes chapter coordinator for Cepudo, Food For The Poor’s Honduras in-country partner. “Eventually, he did put them on, and he was so proud of them.”

Even though it was a Sunday, the children dressed neatly in their school uniforms to receive their new pair of TOMS. TOMS Shoes were distributed at four schools in the poor coastal communities of Puerto Cortes, Honduras. There is no reliable electric or water source in the area, and the only available transportation is by horseback or on foot. Some children do not attend school because they do not have adequate shoes to wear. In addition, without proper footwear, children’s feet are vulnerable to cuts, injury and soil-transmitted infections. For these reasons, it is especially important that children have shoes to protect their feet.

“In developing countries, something as simple as a pair of new shoes makes a huge difference in the lives of these children,” said Angel Aloma, Food For The Poor’s Executive Director. “The TOMS Shoes that were distributed to these grateful children will continue to play an active role in the children's health, educational attainment, and self-esteem for many years.”

Through TOMS’ One for One®™ movement, new shoes will be distributed to children repeatedly as they grow. A pair of new shoes, in addition to meeting the basic needs of a child, increases their confidence, leading to better opportunities through an increase in the child’s school attendance.

“We have been able to help 100 percent of the students in the area, according to government records,” said Ramon. “This is a historic event for us and for the area. We have never been able to distribute such a large quantity of aid, and reach so many people at the same time. So far we have distributed new pairs of TOMS Shoes to more than 100 selected schools.”

Food For The Poor’s partners help with everything from self-sustaining aquaculture farms to feeding nutritious meals to school children.

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.

In 2006, American traveler Blake Mycoskie befriended children in a village in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet.  Wanting to help, he created TOMS Shoes, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One™. Since then, TOMS has evolved from a shoe company to the One for One company, and is now addressing an entirely new need around the world in addition to shoes through eyewear.

Water, Water everywhere, but is it Safe to Drink?

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (March 18, 2013) – For the poorest of the poor in the Caribbean and Latin America, access to clean water is virtually non-existent. Thousands of families in the countries we serve need safe, clean drinking water. Sadly, for many in the rural communities, their only source of water comes from a watering hole, river or a stream. These waters may appear clean, but they are often harboring harmful and potentially deadly bacteria.

International World Water Day is set aside each year as a means of focusing attention on the importance of fresh water and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. As World Water Day celebrates its 20th year on March 22, Food For The Poor will launch its fourth annual Water Weekfundraising campaign, March 18 through March 25. During this weeklong donation drive, the charity is seeking to raise money for water filtration units, water wells and pumps.

“Food For The Poor understands the vital importance of providing the villages we build with access to clean water and proper sanitation. Many of the very young and the elderly die from preventable waterborne illnesses such as dysentery, cholera and parasitic infections,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor. “The theme for this year’s World Water Day is ‘International Year of Water Cooperation’ and by supporting Water Week 2013 you will be helping to provide a community with safe drinking water. It only takes a little to make a big difference.”

Over the past decade, Food For The Poor has completed more than 1,475 water projects, which include wells, cisterns, tanks, distribution systems, and water treatment units in the countries the organization serves. Thanks to generous donors and a partnership with Water Missions International, since the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Food For The Poor has installed 60 water filtration units that purify 600,000 gallons of water each day, and drilled 136 wells in Haiti. Together, these projects provide a safe water source for more than a million people. 

Can you imagine trying to live just one day without clean water or anything to drink? Sadly, this is the daily reality for Choupette, a 10-year-old Haitian girl. Choupette leaves her home early each day and treks down a rocky, treacherous mountainside to fill two one-gallon containers with contaminated, dirty water.  Please click on the following link www.foodforthepoor.org/quest to view a short video of Choupette's daily quest for water, and to learn how you can help quench her thirst and the thirst of those within her community.      
                                       
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 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor.

Food For The Poor Joins the National #GivingTuesday Movement

Related Information:

• More Photos on Facebook
• Related Story on huffingtonpost.com
• Angel Aloma's video on #GivingTuesday

COCONUT CREEK, Fla., (Nov. 27, 2012) – Today, the first #GivingTuesday, kicks off the season of giving. Food For The Poor is among more than 2,000 charities who are urging consumers to look beyond Black Friday and Cyber Monday to the importance of giving back.

Food For The Poor joined #GivingTuesday to harness the collective power of a unique blend of partners – charities, families, businesses and individuals.

“Food For The Poor is extremely excited and proud to be a part of this movement, where hundreds of nonprofits working in the United States and in various countries are spreading the news about the beauty of giving back,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor. “It is my hope that individuals who learn about #GivingTuesday will support their charities and causes of choice and take part in helping to create a better world.”

When Food For The Poor’s Executive Director was invited to write a blog entry for the Huffington Post as part of the #GivingTuesday initiative, he thought right away of a donor who has experienced both tribulation and triumph this past year.

Longtime donor Barbara Gilbert rejoiced at the completion of one of her Food For The Poor projects for the poor in Jamaica, but just weeks later was thrown into despair when she was told her son’s body was being assaulted by an infection and amputation of his limbs might be the only way to save him. 
Her story of the cycle of giving is on Huffington Post.

To join Food For The Poor’s #GivingTuesday initiative, visit www.foodforthepoor.org/givingtuesday.
View our gift catalog video at www.foodforthepoor.org/givingtuesdayvideo for creative ideas that will change lives long after the holiday season has ended. For $10, you can give the gift of a fruit tree, or you can choose to give farm animals such as chickens, pigs, goats, donkeys and cows, which will provide an income and a source of nutrition for destitute families.         
                                                                                       
For more details about the #GivingTuesday movement, visit the #GivingTuesday website www.givingtuesday.org, Facebook page www.facebook.com/GivingTuesday or follow the #GivingTuesday hashtag on Twitter.


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 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor.

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

A Donor’s Story: Food For The Poor Shares the Gift of Giving

COCONUT Creek, Fla., (Nov. 16, 2012) – When Food For The Poor Executive Director Angel Aloma was invited to write a blog entry for the Huffington Post as part of the #GivingTuesday initiative, he thought right away of a donor who has experienced both tribulation and triumph this past year.

Dozens of bloggers representing charities around the world were asked to write about a project or person who has been a source of inspiration for a special series focused on #GivingTuesday. Starting Nov.1, and for the next 30 days, bloggers including Food For The Poor, will use the Huffington Post as a venue to share inspiring stories.
Longtime donor Barbara Gilbert rejoiced at the completion of one of her Food For The Poor projects for the poor in Jamaica, but just weeks later was thrown into despair when she was told her son’s body was being assaulted by an infection and amputation of his limbs might be the only way to save him.

Read her story of the cycle of giving.

“We have many donors who support this international development and relief agency, but Barbara is one of those donors whose circumstances in life give new meaning to the cycle of giving,” said Aloma. “One of the most valuable gifts we can give our families, friends and to our neighbors is the commitment to work together to make this world a better place.”

Food For The Poor is one of nearly 200 nonprofits invited by InterAction, the largest alliance of U.S.-based international nongovernmental organizations, to take part in an initiative this holiday season where the act of sharing will take on a new meaning. 
On November 27, 2012, #GivingTuesday will use the power of social media to create a national movement around the holidays dedicated to giving.  For more details about the #GivingTuesday movement, visit the #GivingTuesday website www.givingtuesday.org, Facebook page www.facebook.com/GivingTuesday or follow the #GivingTuesday hashtag on Twitter.

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 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. 

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

National FFA donates half a million meals to Haiti

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Nov. 8, 2012) – Thanks to the generosity of the National Future Farmers of America, the international relief and development organization Food For The Poor was able to ship half a million rice casserole meals to Haiti just one week after Hurricane Sandy left 54 dead and destroyed 70 percent of the country’s subsistence agricultural crops.

The bags were packed by volunteers and contain soy protein, dried vegetables and spices and provide nutritious food for four to six people, when mixed with boiling water. Through the efforts of caring donors, more than 16 million such meals have been shipped since January 2012 to countries served by Food For The Poor.

“Food insecurity is something all of us are seeing in our local communities more than ever before. We believe FFA can make a difference, and we envision a world where hunger will be a thing of the past,” said National FFA Chief Executive Officer W. Dwight Armstrong. “This was the largest single service event the National FFA Organization has ever conducted. More than 10,000 people gave their time and energy over two-and-a-half days right in the middle of our national convention, including students, teachers, staff and sponsors.”

The donation comes at a time when Hurricane Sandy’s damage has left Haiti in danger of a severe food crisis, putting hundreds of thousands of lives at risk. Sixty-seven pallets of meals went out immediately to Port-au-Prince. “This beautiful gift of food literally will save the lives of children and their families who had very little before the storm, and now have absolutely nothing,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor. “I find it especially meaningful that these generous donors have not only packed these meals, but are committing their futures to finding solutions for feeding a growing global population.”

Three more pallets of the meals will be shipped next week with other necessary supplies to Cap-Haitien, where heavy rains on Thursday night reportedly resulted in the deaths of some infants and children.

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 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. 

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

Boca Grande Committee Keeps Its Promise - Friendship Village II is Now Home for Dozens of Families in Michaud, Haiti

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Nov. 5, 2012) – It’s difficult to believe, but it’s been almost three years since a powerful earthquake rattled Haiti. More than a million people were left homeless, and the country’s capital was quickly peppered with tent cites as far as the eye could see. But since that fateful day, the wheels of progress have been turning, and more than half of those in tents have been relocated out of Port-au-Prince. Unfortunately, a reported 400,000 remain in desperate need of permanent housing.

Thanks to the caring support of the Boca Grande Hope for Haitians Committee and Food For The Poor’s dedicated donors, funding for the Boca Grande Friendship Village II has been completed.  Forty families have been relocated from the tents in Port-au-Prince, to their very own homes in Michaud. To date, Boca Grande’s committee members have helped with the construction of 115 homes, several schools and community centers.
“After the earthquake in Haiti, my wife and I had the opportunity to see what these tent cities are like first-hand, and after that experience we knew we had to help,” said Ben Scott, chair of the Boca Grande Hope for Haitians Committee. “We met with the committee and decided that our second village would be designated for families living in the tents. We are very grateful for the opportunity to help these families to get a new start in life.”

Friendship Village II is a community of 40 two-room houses and each house is equipped with a sanitation unit and kitchenette.  Each family was given two solar-powered lanterns. Four solar-powered street lamps were also installed for added security. The village also has a community center, 200 fruit trees, 80 goats and a water filtration unit.
“It’s hard to find the words to describe how thankful we are for this new village in Michaud, Haiti,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor. “Forty families with safe homes became 40 families who are given a hand up towards self-sustainability. Forty self-sustaining families will give hope to many others living in deplorable conditions, while inspiring many compassionate people here to help them in the same way.”

Scott feels it is important for donors to see for themselves how their donations are being used to change the lives of families in Haiti. There will be an inauguration of the Boca Grande Friendship Village II in Michaud, Haiti on January 14 -17, 2013. Committee members and anyone who has a desire to experience this joyous celebration are being invited to join Scott on the three-day trip with Food For The Poor.

Scott also will address the Boca Grande Committee at a reception on Feb. 21, 2013, at the historic Gasparilla Inn Beach Club, located at 445 Gilchrist Avenue in Boca Grande, Fla., where he will announce plans for Boca Grande Friendship Village III in Manneville, Haiti. 

Manneville is a small town near Thomazeau in the community of Croix-des-Bouquets, and is surrounded by two lakes: Etang Saumatre and Lac Azuei. It has an estimated population of 52,000.  People of Manneville mainly make a living from farming, although it is seasonal. The most common crops cultivated in this area are millet, sugar cane, and onions.  However, many do not have the proper farming tools or methods to establish a successful farm. There is a local market and a few small boutiques, but not enough to create employment opportunities for the masses.

Boca Grande Friendship Village III will have the following:

• 35 two-room houses with sanitation. Each house will be built with a guttering system on the roof that will be connected to a water cistern, which will provide families with immediate access to rain water.
• 2,000 trees will be planted around the community to reforest the land and also increase fruit bearing trees.
• 100 goats will be distributed to residents in the community. The residents will be properly trained on how to care for the animals.
• 50 residents will receive agricultural tools to help them become more productive farmers.

The Boca Grande Hope for Haitians Committee has been working through Food For The Poor to build homes since 2009.

The first community built by Boca Grande through Food For The Poor was the Friendship Village in Pierre Payen, in the Artibonite Region of the country.  In 2010, 40 double-unit homes equipped with kitchenettes, sanitation and 200-gallon plastic water cisterns to collect rain water were constructed.  In 2011, they completed a school there, added 22 double-unit homes, fruit trees, solar-powered street lights, and added more than 20 cows. In addition, 16 women were given the opportunity for small business ventures.

Committee members include: Ben and Louise Scott, the Rev. Gary Beatty, the Rev. Brian Brightly, the Rev. Jerome Carosella, the Rev. Read Heydt, George and Lois Castrucci, Patricia Chapman, Ray and Iliene Corcoran, Charlie and Florita Field, Evelyn Finnegan, Lou and Corie Fusz, Stephen and Susan Jansen, Tom and Nancy Lorden, Colvin and Madelaine McCrady, and Peter and Elsa Soderberg.

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 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 Joins the National #GivingTuesday Movement

COCONUT Creek, Fla., (Oct. 30, 2012) – Food For The Poor has joined #GivingTuesday, a first of its kind effort that will harness the collective power of a unique blend of partners – charities, families, businesses and individuals – to transform how people think about the giving season.

Coinciding with the Thanksgiving holiday, the first #GivingTuesday will be Nov. 27, 2012, and will use the power of social media to create a national movement.  Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become synonymous with shopping, and the goal is to make #GivingTuesday synonymous with giving back, and to kick off the season of sharing. 

“Food For The Poor is extremely excited and proud to be a part of this movement, where dozens of nonprofits working in the United States and in various countries are spreading the news about the beauty of giving back,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor. “It is my hope that individuals who learn about #GivingTuesday will support their charities and causes of choice and take part in helping to create a better world.”  

To join Food For The Poor’s #GivingTuesday initiative, visit www.foodforthepoor.org/givingtuesday.

View our gift catalog video at www.foodforthepoor.org/givingtuesdayvideo for creative ideas that will continue to change lives long after the holiday season has ended. For $10, you can give the gift of a fruit tree, or you can choose to give farm animals such as chickens, pigs, goats, donkeys and cows, which will provide an income and a source of nutrition for destitute families.                                                                                                     

#GivingTuesday is endorsed by the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy, Dorothy A. Johnson Center on Philanthropy, Giving Institute, Giving USA Foundation and InterAction. Charity Navigator and GuideStar are serving as Charity Advisors. VolunteerMatch is a volunteer advisor to #GivingTuesday.    

For more details about the #GivingTuesday movement, visit the #GivingTuesday website www.givingtuesday.org, Facebook page www.facebook.com/GivingTuesday or follow the #GivingTuesday hashtag on Twitter.

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 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor.

Gold and Silver Medalist Yohan Blake to Lead Food For The Poor’s 5K Walk/Run For Hunger

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Oct. 4, 2012) – Jamaican Olympic medal winner Yohan Blake will lead Food For The Poor’s 5K Walk/Run For Hunger on Saturday, Nov. 17, at 7 a.m. at Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach, Fla. Blake, nicknamed “The Beast,” is the current world champion over 100 meters and a silver medalist at the 2012 Olympics in London in the 100 and 200 meters.

“It’s really great that Food For The Poor is stepping up to help more people overcome poverty,” said Blake, one of the world’s youngest and fastest sprinters. “It is a cause that’s near to my heart as a Jamaican, and I’m happy to be part of something so special, including giving back to my country.”

Blake’s participation in the charity’s 5K Walk/Run is especially meaningful because both the athlete’s and the nonprofit’s legacies started in Spanish Town, Jamaica. Born in 1989, Blake has dedicated his life to the sport, and is currently tied as a second-fastest man in the 100 meter race after Usain Bolt. The two were part of the Jamaican 100 meter relay team that won the gold medal and broke a world record in the London Olympics. In 1982, the nonprofit started out as a small feeding program in Jamaica, and since then has grown exponentially to become the largest international relief organization in Jamaica and the United States.

“We are so honored to have a Jamaican national hero join us for this important and fun event,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor. “He has channeled his passion and enthusiasm so beautifully for the sport, and to serving the underprivileged. He is a true hero.”

Proceeds from this year’s 5K Walk/Run will raise money to purchase food to feed destitute families in the Caribbean and Latin America.
You can register online at www.foodforthepoor.org/walk. Cost of registration is $20 for adults and $15 for children ages 6-10. There’s no fee for children 5 and under. The registration cost includes a T-shirt. There will be refreshments, live music, balloon artists, face painters and more at this family event.

This year, a generous donor has agreed to match every dollar raised with an additional dollar’s worth of food. While on the website, take advantage of free fundraising tips designed to help you reach your fundraising goal by sharing your ideas with family, friends, co-workers and contacts.

Special awards will be given to top finishers of each age group. Food For The Poor will be using AccuChip to provide state-of-the art timing and scoring.  This service is used for running, triathlon, swimming, mud runs and biking events in Florida.

For more information, please call 954-596-4020 or send an email to events@foodforthepoor.org. You can also register the day of the event.  Registration starts at 6:30 a.m., the run/walk begins at 7 a.m. and the awards ceremony is at 8 a.m.

There will be several opportunities to help and have fun before the run/walk.
• On Sunday, Oct. 28, plan to gather at Bru’s Room in Coconut Creek to register for the run/walk and to watch the 1 p.m. kickoff of the Miami Dolphins v. New York Jets. Miami Dolphins’ cheerleaders will distribute prizes to fans from the team’s touchdown van at Bru’s Room, 5460 W. Hillsboro Blvd., Coconut Creek, Fla.
• Winn-Dixie, the event’s presenting sponsor, will host a wine sampling compliments of Barefoot Wine & Bubbly on Friday, Nov. 2 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Invite your friends and teammates to stop by to learn more about the nonprofit, and win prizes at Winn-Dixie, 2450 N Sr-7, Margate, Fla.

• Tickets to the Miami Dolphins v. Seattle Seahawks game on Sunday, Nov. 25, can be purchased for $50. Fifty percent of the ticket sales through the nonprofit will be contributed to the run/walk’s final donation tally. To order tickets, or to request additional information, please send an email to events@FoodForThePoor.com.

The 5K Walk/Run is presented by Winn Dixie.  Event sponsors are Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, Corner Bakery Cafe, PNC, Runners Edge, TeamReliv, WATA, Wells Fargo, and World of Beer. Yohan Blake limited edition commemorative WATA bottles will be distributed at the run/walk.

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 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor.

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

South Miami Hospital Delivers in Big Way to a Group of Jamaican Orphans

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Sept. 19, 2012) – The SOS Children’s Village in Montego Bay, Jamaica, is a sanctuary of sorts and is located within the pretty hills near one of the island’s most popular resort destinations. The orphaned, the abandoned and those whose families are unable to care for them have had this place of refuge to turn to for more than four decades.

Like many orphanages on the island, the kindness of strangers also helps with the support of the youth in their care, strangers that in most cases the recipients would never get to meet. However, one group of workers from South Miami Hospital made it their mission in partnership with Food For The Poor, to personally distribute clothes, shoes, hats, bags, soccer balls and a variety of toys to 81 children in the care of the SOS Children’s Village.
“It was a wonderful experience,” said Rooney Brodie, Manager of Community Affairs at South Miami Hospital. “The children were so gracious, so polite and so sweet. It was really heartwarming to provide them some assistance, and in some cases, to their extended family members who also were impacted.” 

With the help of the Rotary Club of South Miami, South Miami Hospital created Charity for Children after the back-to-back hurricanes of 2004 stormed across the Caribbean islands. Alternating between the Bahamas and Jamaica, the charity has since traveled once a year for the last eight years bearing gifts. With so many donations to give to the children in the Montego Bay orphanage, they turned to Food For The Poor for assistance.

In June, South Miami Hospital delivered dozens of packed boxes to the Food For The Poor warehouse in Coconut Creek, Fla. The international relief and development organization then shipped the items to Kingston. From there, the Food For The Poor staff in Jamaica took the donated items to their final destination to the orphanage in Montego Bay. The boxes arrived in time for the Aug. 30 distribution date planned by the five South Miami Hospital employees.

“Food For The Poor is an excellent organization with an excellent reputation for serving and caring for people in the Caribbean. We were very impressed by that and decided we wanted to reach out to your organization to help us with this project,” said Brodie.
“Some of the most basic of items can mean so much to a child living in an orphanage, but more important than these necessary tangible things is for that child to know that someone cares about their well being  and is willing to pay them a personal visit,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor.

South Miami Hospital also held a health and wellness event for the children, which included a basic health check-up, games, fun-filled activities and a picnic.
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 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor.

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

A race to the finish to benefit families in El Salvador

It’s not the win, but the finish that’s important for one runner who’s taking part in the upcoming Rochester Marathon on Sept. 23. Eric Bessette, a Deacon at the Church of the Transfiguration in Pittsford, NY, has spent months training to run 26.2 miles in a race he knows he will not win – but his purpose is much greater than the trophy.

“I’ve dedicated this run to a rural village in El Salvador afflicted with poor living conditions, malnutrition, unemployment, and lack of education,” said Deacon Bessette. “My church has partnered with the Food For The Poor organization to help provide for this community.” 

The Valle Verde community is a 45 minute drive northeast of El Salvador’s capital city of San Salvador and was established in the 1990’s as a refuge for families displaced by civil war. Last year, the Global Solidarity Ministry Committee at the Church of the Transfiguration began working with the international relief and development organization to build a village consisting of 20 two-room homes, a library and vocational center, plus animal husbandry projects for self-sustainability.

With the construction for the first 10 two-room homes set to start in the fall, the Global Solidarity Ministry Committee is backing Deacon Bessette’s idea of using his participation in the Rochester Marathon as a way
 to raise the final funds necessary for phase one of the Valle Verde village.

“The determination of those who want to make a difference in this world never ceases to amaze me. Running in a marathon is not easy, but yet Deacon Bessette is willing to do whatever it takes to help others,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor. “We are very grateful to all those involved in the Church of the Transfiguration for helping Food For The Poor to provide a better life for the destitute families
 in El Salvador.”

Deacon Bessette will be wearing a sash that reads “Running for Valle Verde.” He’s hopeful his community will make a pledge toward his run to raise the much needed funds to meet the goal.
Here’s how you can help: go to: www.foodforthepoor.org/transfiguration to make a secure online pledge.

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 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. 

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






Contact:
Wanda Wright
Food For The Poor
Public Relations
954-427-2222 x 6079
wandaw@foodforthepoor.com

Little Red Beans are Making a Huge Impact in Nicaragua

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Sept. 7, 2012) - The forces of nature have not been kind to the Central American country of Nicaragua in recent years. Volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and back-to-back tropical systems have taken a toll on many, but ironically, these acts of nature have also prepared the land to give back in more ways than one.

The rich and fertile soil in northwestern Nicaragua, in the mountainous region of Ocotal, is just right for producing one of the country’s most consumed crops – beans. Beans are an inexpensive source of protein and are a staple in the daily diet of many families. Last year, the Texas-based Greater Impact Foundation teamed up with Food For The Poor to educate bean famers on how to grow better crops. The farmers are also learning how to earn a living from the fruits of their labor.   

“Our board of directors had expressed a desire to begin funding projects that centered on dignified job creation and a sustainable business model,” said Erica Trani, Executive Director of Greater Impact Foundation. “Since my background is in international development, more specifically grassroots economic development, I was able to contribute my insight to create the specifications of the projects we were most interested in funding as we moved forward.”

More than 800 Nicaraguan farmers are enrolled in the red bean farming program, which is a benefit to a community of nearly 3,500 residents. Under this project, farmers are learning new agricultural techniques, as well as marketing and management strategies. Many women also have been hired to work in the Las Lomas Bean Seed Processing Plant, where the harvested red beans are polished, separated and packaged. The beans are sold in Nicaragua, and to other Central American countries.

“Food For The Poor’s goal has always been to help families with their immediate needs, but more importantly to serve as a catalyst towards self-sustainability,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor. “Agricultural projects, such as this bean farming program in Nicaragua, are an excellent example of how providing farmers with the proper tools and knowledge are a blessing for all involved.” Trani recently traveled with Food For The Poor to see for herself the various agricultural projects in the communities of Ocotal and Somoto, which include a variety of fruits and vegetables.     

“Although this was my first time visiting Nicaragua, I was immediately impacted by the genuine will, leadership qualities, and earnest expression of the farmers,” said Trani.  “All players involved, including American Nicaraguan Foundation, Food For The Poor, and the farming communities have strongly coalesced around the central mission. Everyone is functioning as a team, ensuring that the project goes as well as it can.”

When it comes to addressing poverty, the Greater Impact Foundation realizes this is a long-term process, and has since committed to working with Food For The Poor for a second phase of agricultural projects to assist Nicaraguan farmers.

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 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 thanks Office Depot Foundation

Thanks to the generosity of the Office Depot Foundation, the international relief and development organization Food For The Poor will be able to provide 4,000 sackpacks for the children in its Angels Of Hope program in Jamaica, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guyana and Guatemala.

“This beautiful donation will allow children to enter the school year with supplies that have the potential to change their lives,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor. “We know that if we ever are going to break the cycle of poverty, it will come through education. Through this gift, these children will be offered the chance at dignity, success and hope for the future.”

Caring donors to Food For The Poor have sponsored approximately 3,800 children in 95 homes, which are dedicated to serving orphaned, abandoned, abused and malnourished children. Many of the sackpacks already have been distributed at various Day of Celebration events at the Angels Of Hope homes. The next distribution is planned for September in Honduras.

“The Office Depot Foundation is proud to partner with Food For The Poor in our 2012 National Backpack Program,” said Mary Wong, President of Office Depot Foundation. “The fact that this partnership helps to extend the impact of the program internationally is exceptionally gratifying.  We are committed to helping children succeed in school wherever they may be.”

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 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor.  For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.

Contact:
Kathy Skipper
Director of Public Relations
954-427-2222 x 6614
kathys@foodforthepoor.org

Donated sports equipment inspires and motivates young lives

The love of sports is as old as the Olympic Games, which are believed to have started in ancient Greece in 776 B.C.  Centuries later, dozens of nations still look forward to seeing their top athletes compete in selected venues of the world and the chance to bring home a bronze, silver or gold medal.

Maureen Sawyer, 14, may not be an Olympic champion, but she does have a heart of gold when it comes to giving back. A devoted Girl Scout for nearly a decade, and a determined soccer player, Sawyer is making the lives of hundreds of children in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Guatemala and Honduras a lot more enjoyable, thanks to her donation of sports equipment.

“It is an amazing feeling to know that I have made a difference in the lives of those I’ve never even met,” said Sawyer. “I have seen photos of children in Haiti playing with balls and toys made from trash. Now, having actual toys and sports equipment, these kids can play more easily, safely and joyfully!”

Sawyer learned about Food For The Poor from Father Richard Martin, pastor of the Church of the Nativity in Burke, Va. For 14 years, Fr. Martin and his congregation have worked side by side with Food For The Poor to help transform the lives of hundreds of families by building seven villages in Haiti.

With the support of her family, Sawyer started collecting her treasure trove of balls, bats, mitts, and more in mid-April.  She asked friends to bring sports equipment to her birthday party in place of presents. She received donations from her teachers, neighbors, and the athletic departments at Lake Braddock Secondary School. She set up collection bins at White Oaks Elementary School, Burke Sporting Goods and purchased items from Dani Dubs Consignment Sale.  Eight weeks later, 18 large boxes packed to the brim were shipped to the Caribbean and Latin America via Food For The Poor.

“Maureen’s generous donation of sporting equipment is greatly appreciated. Many of the children in the countries we serve see sports such as baseball, basketball or soccer as a means of hope, as a way to escape the poverty that surrounds them,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor. “With this donation, they know someone out there cares enough about them to give them the opportunity to dream, and that’s what being a child is about.”

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 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor.         

Contact:
Wanda Wright
Food For The Poor
Public Relations
954-427-2222 x 6079
wandaw@foodforthepoor.com