Building Homes in Haiti

Alabama Man Builds His Business, Builds Homes for the Poor

	One hundred soccer balls and 50 bicycles also were distributed to the children in the village.
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COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (May 29, 2015)  Alabama homebuilder Rob Owens has built VTS Homes, Inc. from the ground up, and in doing so has kept his promise to provide homes for the destitute in Haiti. Owens was recently named a ‘40 Under 40’ winner by Professional Builder magazine for his accomplishments and charitable efforts through the charity Food For The Poor.

With the support of his company, located in Huntsville, and business partners David and Todd Slyman, Owens has built 18 concrete block homes in LaHatte, Haiti, providing more than 100 people with a secure place to live.

“I've seen the transformation firsthand when I visited LaHatte in June 2013, and it's real and permanently life-changing for those we are able to serve,” said Owens.

A graduate of Marquette University, Owens is married and is the father of two. He started his first company at age 22. He founded VTS Homes in 2010 during the housing downturn with virtually no capital and only one pre-sold house, but grew the company to more than $6 million in revenue in two years.

Also in 2010, Owens reached out to Food For The Poor after seeing a news story about the work the organization is doing in Haiti. That was when Owens and his partners decided that for every home VTS sold, they would make a donation to build homes in Haiti.

“LaHatte is located just north of the city of St. Marc and is in a section of the country that’s not easy to navigate. Life in Haiti can be difficult, but life in LaHatte can be especially brutal, due to the arid condition of the land,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor. “The gratitude of the families who went from living in mud thatched huts to a solid home with an inside bathroom and kitchenette is beyond any words I can express. Food For The Poor is extremely thankful to have donors like Rob Owens, who have decided to share the blessings of their businesses to help the truly destitute.”

The first phase of the LaHatte project also included a playground with a merry-go-round, a first for the organization and its donors. One hundred soccer balls and 50 bicycles were also purchased and distributed to the children within the village. Owens now wants to complete Phase II, which is the construction of six additional homes for families within that community.
 
“We ask that others join us in transforming the lives of those in LaHatte and other parts of Haiti,” said Owens. “We only have a short time on this earth and we believe we must make a difference in the lives of those in need.”  

If you would like to make a secure online donation toward the completion of Phase II in the village in LaHatte, Haiti, visit www.FoodForThePoor.org/vtshomes. Those wishing to make a donation by check, please make it payable to Food For The Poor and mail to 6401 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek, FL 33073. Please include reference number “SC# 89122” to ensure your donation is accurately routed. All gifts are tax-deductible.

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.

Virginia Parish Delivers Hope

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (May 28, 2015) – Today, Father Robert C. Cilinski, pastor of the Church of the Nativity in Burke, Virginia, hand-delivered a check to Food For The Poor CEO/President Robin Mahfood for the proceeds from the parish’s 2015 Operation Starfish® campaign.

Food For The Poor’s staff gave a standing ovation to thank Nativity parishioners for the sacrifices they made to change the lives of destitute families in Haiti.

“Pope Francis tells us, ‘To live charitably means not looking out for our own interests, but carrying the burdens of the weakest and poorest among us,’” said Fr. Cilinski. “Today, the parishioners of Church of the Nativity join with the staff of Food For The Poor to recommit ourselves to the weakest and poorest among us.”

“For 17 years, Church of the Nativity’s parishioners have looked beyond themselves to create lifesaving miracles for the poor,” said Mahfood, who was humbled by the generous outpouring of support from Nativity’s parishioners. Mahfood met in early May with His Holiness Pope Francis at Vatican City.

“Nativity has been a blessing to the poor,” said Mahfood. “A house, with access to water and a flush toilet, is one of the greatest gifts we can give a family. This gift will help to bring the people closer to God. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

The donation will be used to continue the development of Good Shepherd Village near Grand Boulage, Haiti. This village is the 10th built by Nativity, and it is named Good Shepherd Village in memory of Fr. Richard Martin, who worked with the charity for 16 years through Operation Starfish®. Additional gifts will continue to support existing projects like the St. Anthony Health Center and the Nativity Village scholarship program.

Fr. Martin died unexpectedly last May at the age of 74.

“This year, we began a new tradition; each year on the Sunday closest to the anniversary of Fr. Martin’s passing, we will have a second collection at all our masses for Operation Starfish®,” said Fr. Cilinski. “Thus Fr. Martin and his legacy of love for the poor will be remembered in our parish at a special time each year, with prayer and a tangible expression of mercy toward the weakest and poorest among us.

“As the wicker baskets were being passed Fr. Martin spoke to us,” said Fr. Cilinski. “Remember Haiti.”

Fr. Martin’s legacy already has given new life to the first 40 families who have received keys to their new Food For The Poor homes in Good Shepherd Village. The village will be built out over the course of three years, and will combine the latest technology, construction techniques, and community development programs. The village ultimately will contain 120 houses, solar lighting, a community center, a health clinic, agriculture projects, and a kindergarten. The residents will receive life-skills training to ensure they can take advantage of all the programs offered.

Also in attendance was Father Keith O’Hare, pastor of the Bánica Mission in the Dominican Republic, from the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, Va.

Earlier this year, Church of the Nativity also used Operation Starfish® proceeds to support Food For The Poor’s Payen Fish Farming project and Honduras Fishing Boat project.

Food For The Poor’s Operation Starfish® program has five arms of aid to transform the living conditions of destitute families. These programs include food, water, housing, education, and micro-enterprise opportunities.

Those interested in starting an Operation Starfish® program at their parish, school, or organization can visit www.foodforthepoor.org/operationstarfish or call 877-654-2960 ext. 6219. Parishes nationwide also participate in Operation Starfish programs during Lent, Vacation Bible Study sessions, Christmas in July celebrations, Back to School fundraisers, and in preparation for Advent. 

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.

Ed Buckley Honored

Atlanta TV Station Honors Food For The Poor Donor

	WXIA-TV reporter Jaye Watson presents the award to Ed Buckley. Photo: Poane Studios
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COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (May 18, 2015) – Edward Buckley, managing partner at The Buckley Law Firm LLC, has been given the 2015 11Alive Community Service Award by NBC Atlanta affiliate, WXIA-TV, for providing clean drinking water to the people of Haiti.

“Nobody does this by himself, and this award is dedicated to every man, woman, and child who has carried a stone, laid pipe, dug a hole, and contributed a dollar toward bringing clean drinking water to people who don’t have it. I am just very grateful for the opportunity to do that,” said Buckley, Founder and Executive Director of Water Life Hope, during his acceptance speech at the award ceremony.

Since 2000, Buckley and his supporters have partnered with Food For The Poor to drill more than 300 wells and bring clean, safe water to more than a half a million people.

After recognizing the Water Life Hope board members, Buckley offered a toast to encourage others to donate to the cause close to his heart. 

“Everybody, raise your glass of water in honor of every man, woman, and child who still does not have it, and let’s try to bring it to them,” said Buckley.

11Alive News Anchors Brenda Wood and DeMarco Morgan hosted the 40th annual 11Alive Community Service Awards dinner/show taping Thursday, April 30, 2015 at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis Hotel. Emmy Award-winning reporter Jaye Watson presented the 11 Who Care Community Service Award to Buckley.

“Thank you, Ed Buckley, for lifting a tremendous burden off the shoulders of the poor in developing countries, and for blessing them with the gift of clean, lifesaving water,” said Robin Mahfood, President/CEO of Food For The Poor.

Buckley was named an Ambassador For The Poor by Food For The Poor in 2014.

To invest in a critically needed water project in Haiti, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org/water-haiti. Click here to view the vignette about Buckley’s mission that aired on WXIA and WATL.

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.