Man to Walk 500 Miles

New Mexico Man Steps Up His Goal in 500-Mile Walk

	Daniel Valdez (far right) has spent recent months preparing for his third 500-mile walk from Lovington, N.M., to Chihuahua, Mexico, starting on Friday, Dec. 19, 2014. Walking approximately 33 miles a day, sometimes picking up supporters along the way, as seen here.
Related Items: See Photos from Daniel's Walk Follow Daniel's Route

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Dec. 8, 2014) – When it comes to the hurting, homeless and the hungry in the world, New Mexico resident Daniel Valdez has decided to make their plight his motivation for change. This year, Valdez will walk to provide a very special gift that’s called “Everything for a Family with Nothing” through Food For The Poor.

“I’ve seen homeless people who live on the street and it’s very hard to watch,” Valdez said. “I don’t wish that on anyone, and when I see a homeless family with children, it really breaks my heart.”          

For the third year, Valdez is preparing to embark on an arduous journey that’s becoming an annual event for him, walking 500 miles through more than a dozen U.S. cities, and across the border and into Mexico. The 52-year-old Valdez has spent months preparing for his third 500-mile walk, which will begin on Friday, Dec. 19, 2014, in his hometown of Lovington, New Mexico, and end in Delicias, Chihuahua, Mexico. 

Valdez’s gift this year will allow Food For The Poor to provide a poor family with a new house with sanitation and water component, rice and beans for a full year, a small business project to help provide a source of income, school supplies for two children (including books and uniforms), clothing and shoes.

“What Mr. Valdez is planning is no easy task, we are sincerely touched by his desire to not only call attention to the needs of the poor, but to help a family who has absolutely nothing,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor. “One of Food For The Poor’s key projects has been building homes in the countries we serve, and Mr. Valdez’s generosity will allow us to make a world of difference in the lives of a family that is in dire need.”

Following 6 a.m. Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Lovington, Valdez will start walking at 7:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 19, 2014, in front of the Lea County Courthouse, which is located at 100 North Main Ave., Lovington, NM.

His route covers points in New Mexico and passes through the communities of 1. Lovington, N.M. 2. Hobbs, N.M. 3. Eunice, N.M. 4. Jal, N.M. 5. Kermit, Texas  6.Wink, Texas 7. Pyote, Texas 8. Coyanosa, Texas 9. Alpine, Texas 10. Marfa, Texas 11. Shafter, Texas 12. Presidio, Texas 13. Ojinaga, CH, Mexico 14. Aldama, CH, Mexico 15. Chihuahua, CH, Mexico 16. Delicias, CH, Mexico. To see a video animation of Valdez’s 500-mile journey please click www.FoodForThePoor.org/mapofroute.

This year, Valdez will push the limits of his mission by visiting two additional cities in Mexico, where he will hold two different events. He will travel to Satevo, Chihuahua, where he will do a 10 to15-mile walk, followed by a visit to Cuauhtemoc, Chihuahua, where he will wrap up his mission with a 5K Run on Jan. 6, 2015, on the festive day of Dia de Reyes (Kings’ Day).

The idea of helping the poor was a decade in the making for Valdez, who has been running in regional races for 10 years. It was during one of these runs from Hobbs, New Mexico, to his hometown of Lovington, with longtime friend and priest, the Rev. Manuel Ibarra, that he felt the call to action. After some encouraging words from his friend and with the support of his wife, four children and his congregation, his first 500-mile walk took place in 2012.

Last year, a portion of the proceeds from Valdez’s second 500-mile walk went toward Food For The Poor’s general feeding program, which provides hundreds of thousands of meals each day to the hungry in the 17 countries the international relief and development organization serves.

“It makes me happy to know there’s hope for people. It is God who made this possible and this is what keeps me going. I never want to quit, because when I think about the needs of the people, I want to help and it drives me to keep going,” said Valdez. “I like helping people, especially the poor. Doing so makes me feel close to God.”

Valdez’s parents will trail him on his journey, driving in the family’s RV, which is where Valdez will sleep at night.

To help Valdez reach his goal, visit www.FoodForThePoor.org/danielvaldez and make a secure online donation.

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.

Man to walk 500 miles

	Daniel Valdez has spent recent months preparing for his second 500-mile walk from Lovington, N.M., to Chihuahua, Mexico, starting on Friday, Dec. 20, 2013.
Related Items: Support Daniel with a Donation See More Photos of Dan

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Dec. 9, 2013) – With a whole lot of faith and a desire to raise awareness about the needs of those who are often forgotten, Daniel Valdez is preparing to embark on a great adventure on Dec. 20, 2013. It is one that will have him walking through 16 U.S. cities, and across the border and into Mexico.

"Helping others makes me feel that I am doing God's will,” said Valdez. “When I see hope
in others, I feel happy.”

The idea of helping the poor was nearly a decade in the making for Valdez, who has been running in regional races for 10 years. It was during one of these runs from Hobbs, N.M., to his hometown of Lovington, N.M., with longtime friend and priest, the Rev. Manuel Ibarra; he felt the call to action and thought a walk would be the way to do it. After some encouraging words from his friend and with the support of his wife, four children and his congregation in the tiny town of Lovington, his first 500-mile walk started on Dec. 21, 2012, and ended in Chihuahua, Mexico, 16 days later.

The 51 year-old Valdez has spent recent months preparing for his second 500 mile-walk, which will be taking the same route. Walking approximately 33 miles a day, he’s hoping to beat last year’s time and reach Chihuahua in 15 days. He plans to use this year’s walk as an opportunity to speak about the needs of orphans, the elderly, and the poor to all who will listen.

“My wish is to connect people in my path with a heart of charity,” said Valdez. “Building a human chain of people connected with the same heart is not easy, but it’s not impossible.”

Valdez is seeking to raise funds for the poor through Food For The Poor and two charities in Mexico. He learned about the international relief and development organization from a speaker who visited his parish at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, and from the organization’s “Least of These” television program that’s airing on a number of networks across the country. To see video clips from the “Least of These” visit www.FoodForThePoor.org/aop.

“When we learned about Mr. Valdez’s plan we were moved by his compassionate desire to raise awareness about the needs of the truly destitute,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor. “The fact that he will be walking 500 miles to fundraise for food is truly amazing, and on behalf of the people we serve we want to sincerely thank Mr. Valdez for his generosity.”

Valdez’s walk will begin after morning Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church located at 1301 North 9th Street, Lovington, N.M., 88260 at 7 a.m., Friday, Dec. 20, 2013.

The walk will continue through the following cities in New Mexico, Texas and Mexico: 1. Lovington, N.M. 2. Hobbs, N.M. 3. Eunice, N.M. 4. Jal, N.M. 5. Kermit, Texas  6.Wink, Texas 7. Pyote, Texas 8. Coyanosa, Texas 9. Alpine, Texas 10. Marfa, Texas 11. Shafter, Texas 12. Presidio, Texas 13. Ojinaga, CH, Mexico 14. Aldama, CH, Mexico 15. Chihuahua, CH, Mexico 16. Delicias, CH, Mexico.

Valdez’s parents will trail him on his journey, driving in the family’s RV, which is where Valdez will sleep at night.

To help Valdez reach his goal to feed the poor, visit www.FoodForThePoor.org/danielvaldez and make a secure online donation.

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.

Food For The Poor Thanks Its Donors and Volunteers

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (April 22, 2013) – In honor of National Volunteer Week, April 21-27, Food For The Poor celebrates its donors and countless volunteers for the integral roles they serve in caring for the destitute.

“Food For The Poor recognizes that all its donors are crucial to the charity’s mission of saving lives,” said Angel Aloma, Food For The Poor’s Executive Director. “Volunteers are continual sources of action and change, because they share their genuine enthusiasm and fundraising causes with friends and family members.”

Two years ago, Food For The Poor donor Kevin Carges spoke to members of the Global Solidarity ministry at Church of the Transfiguration in Pittsford, N.Y. After describing how he and other volunteers from the group Eight 4 World Hope partner with Food For The Poor to fund schools in Jamaica, the Transfiguration group was inspired to partner with Food For The Poor to build a community of 20 two-room homes in El Salvador. In February, members of the Transfiguration group traveled to El Salvador to paint five of the homes, and meet the beneficiary families.

For another supporter who lived with cystic fibrosis, what started as a school project and mission trip to Jamaica led his parents to create a Champions For The Poor website in his memory. To honor their son Ben Tolmei’s spirit, his parents are raising money to build a home in Jamaica. In June, they will travel to Jamaica to personally hand the keys to the new home to a family.

In addition to shelter, other supporters are raising awareness and money to install water wells, as well as build schools, clinics and soy product factories.

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.


• Become a volunteer ambassador:
  Present Food For The Poor’s mission at events in your local community. Training is provided.
  
  
• Volunteer, organize or attend an annual event:
  Host a Party With A Purpose to benefit Food For The Poor, or volunteer at a fundraiser.


• 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. Start a Students For The Poor chapter at your school or host an All-Nighter for the Poor to increase awareness of malnutrition and to fund self-sustaining solutions to alleviate hunger in developing countries.
  
  
• Become a corporate volunteer:
  Get involved in fundraising, and travel to the countries we serve to do hands-on projects.


• Planned Giving:
  Donors are able to help others while making prudent and beneficial financial choices for themselves and family members.


• 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.

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.

Redesign Helps Food For The Poor Donors Become Champions

A redesign of Food For The Poor’s personal fundraising program encourages donors to create their own personalized web pages for causes close to their hearts. As Champions For The Poor, donors are able to share their passion for providing relief to the destitute by engaging their friends and families.

Two years ago, a South Florida fifth-grader utilized this technology to raise more than $162,000 to build a village in Haiti. As a result of her success she has been named one of Florida’s top two youth volunteers for 2011. For another donor, what started as a personal project requirement to graduate from the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, led a teenager to tie-dye her way to building homes in Nicaragua. In addition to shelter, other supporters are raising awareness and money to install water wells, and build schools, clinics and soy product factories.

Some donors are inspired to raise funds in honor of one of life’s major milestones, or in memory of a cherished loved one. To provide donors with a sense of community, Food For The Poor has prearranged the champions personalized fundraising web pages into eight distinct categories; Birthdays and Anniversaries, Weddings and Graduations, Individual Causes, Group Causes, In Loving Memory, Faith-Based, Rebuild Haiti, and Party with a Purpose.

You can register to be a champion for the poor, and learn more about Food For The Poor’s personal fundraising program by visiting www.foodforthepoor.org/help/champions.

“Food For The Poor recognizes that all its donors are crucial to the charity’s mission of saving lives,” said Angel Aloma, Food For The Poor’s Executive Director. “The personalization of fundraising pages empowers donors to share their genuine enthusiasm and fundraising causes with friends and family members.”

The technology is user-friendly and Food For The Poor staff is available to help you throughout the process. For additional questions about Food For The Poor’s Champions For The Poor, please dial 954-427-2222, ext. 6064 to speak with William Casanova, or e-mail williamc@foodforthepoor.org for immediate assistance.

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

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

Young Philanthropist Wins National Award For Building Homes in Haiti

A South Florida fifth grader who raised more than $162,000 to build homes for Haiti's poor has been named one of Florida's top two youth volunteers for 2011.

Rachel Wheeler, 11, was recognized by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program to honor young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. The Lighthouse Point resident raised enough money to build 25 two-room Food For The Poor homes in Haiti. Rachel, who attends Zion Lutheran Christian School in Deerfield Beach, launched the campaign two years ago.

Rachel also has qualified to receive the President's Volunteer Service Awards, a prestigious national award that recognizes Americans of all ages who have dedicated their free time to serve both their country and their community. The awards will be distributed to more than 2,800 local honorees this year on behalf of President Barack Obama.

Rachel’s house-building initiative started when she visited Food For The Poor’s South Florida-based office and heard President/CEO Robin Mahfood speak about the desperate living conditions in Haiti, where mothers sometimes feed their children mud cookies to quell their hunger pangs.

“When I saw the before and after pictures of the families he has helped, I knew he was doing God’s work and I had to help,” said Rachel.

As donations flowed in, Rachel decided that instead of just reaching her original goal of building 13 houses, she would build an entire village, complete with sanitation, kitchenettes and potable water. Rachel’s village has been constructed in Leogane, Haiti, near the epicenter of the January 2010 earthquake.

“I would tell other young people that we are the future, and we need to stand up for those who have nothing,” said Rachel, who hopes to visit the village she has helped to build in Haiti later this year.

“From the first time we met, I knew to expect great things from Rachel,” said Mahfood. “Rachel has provided more than 25 families with more than a key to a permanent Food For The Poor house. Thanks to Rachel and her supporters – lives have been changed and saved.”

From April 30 to May 3, Rachel and the other 101 state honorees will travel to Washington, D.C., where they will tour the capital’s landmarks, attend a gala awards ceremony at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, and visit their congressional representatives on Capitol Hill. In addition, 10 of them – five middle level and five high school students – will be named National Honorees on May 2. These honorees will receive $5,000 awards, gold medallions, crystal trophies, and $5,000 grants from The Prudential Foundation for nonprofit, charitable organizations of their choice.
To continue to support Rachel’s house building initiative, tax-deductible donations can be made through the charity’s secure website.

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

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