California woman answers call to save young girl’s vision

Tammy Hamilton knows what a blessing it is to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those in need. After praying to God for guidance, Hamilton answered a call from the nonprofit Food For The Poor to save a young girl’s eyesight and to end her suffering.

“It was all about God,” said Hamilton, who was thankful God had her path in Trabuco Canyon, California, cross with Vanessa Lewis, 16, from St. Ann, Jamaica.

In excruciating pain and at risk of losing eyesight in her right eye, Vanessa said she prayed to God before she made the heart wrenching decision to have her left eye removed. Strengthened by her faith and family in Jamaica, Vanessa and her mother traveled to the United States for a second surgery at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami on July 30.

“The doctors in Jamaica could not find a cure so I had to go overseas,” said Vanessa who has endured years of bullying and taunting as a result of her eye problems. “Sometimes I feel like to give up...”

Mother and daughter have overcome many challenges, including traveling to the United States each year since 2002, with the exception of two years when they just could not afford it. Eight years ago, Vanessa was diagnosed with tractional retinal detachment at Bascom Palmer, after her first eye surgery was not successful. As a result, she permanently lost vision in her left eye.

During the charity’s Thankful Thursday prayer service on Sept. 6, a grateful and emotional Vanessa stood in front of the crowded room to share her testimonial.

“I am finally pain free,” said Vanessa, who received a standing ovation from Food For The Poor staff members.

Robin Mahfood, Food For The Poor’s President/CEO, challenged Vanessa to pursue her dream and become a doctor.

“The hardships we face provide us with opportunities to learn how we can share our talents to benefit others,” said Mahfood, as he embraced Vanessa and congratulated her for overcoming years of adversity. 

“God has done so much for me,” said Vanessa. “God, Himself would have to explain it to you. Thank you for helping to make my tomorrow a better tomorrow and my future a pain free future.”

Thanks to the generosity of Food For The Poor’s donor Hamilton who covered the cost of Vanessa’s recent eye surgery, Vanessa will receive her custom-made, artificial eye on Sept. 25.

“I always say I am not lucky, I am blessed,” said Vanessa. “Thank you all, God bless you always.”

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. 

To learn more, please visit www.foodforthepoor.org.

Contact:
Jennifer Leigh Oates
Food For The Poor
Public Relations
954-427-2222 x 6054
jennifero@foodforthepoor.com

Your Easter gift can help TWICE as many children today!

This Easter, a group of generous donors has agreed to match, dollar-for-dollar (up to $500,000), donations received before April 24th. If you send your gift before Easter Sunday, it will be doubled to feed twice as many hungry children.

Meet the Gelen family of Haiti. Can you see that the baby is malnourished and the boy is too thin for his age? They live in an area that grows rice, but they can't find any buyers for their rice, so there is no money for fruits, vegetables, and protein. Last year's rice crop was spoiled by floods, so there is even less food than normal. Like thousands of other Haitian children, the young Gelens are suffering from malnutrition, slowly starving to death.

Will these children survive past Easter? Their fate may be decided by those who choose to respond to this call -- thank you for choosing life.

You can provide lifesaving food to starving children today and provide nutrition to children who have nothing.

Please, send your Easter gift today by visiting www.foodforthepoor.org/eastergift.

Starving children are depending on your compassion.

Food For The Poor Offers ‘Live Prayer’ iPhone App

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

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

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

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

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

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

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