Gleaner Honour Awards | Food For The Poor - Doing God's Work - Jamaica Gleaner - 23 January 2017

The Reliance Basic School in Braeton, St Catherine. The school was built by Food For The                 Poor Jamaica.

Volunteers and members of Food For The Poor Jamaica constructing one of 18 houses            donated to families in Portland Cottage, Clarendon.

Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica is the largest charity organisation in the country. It's also, arguably, the most respected. That reputation has been built over many years of providing crucial, life-saving assistance to persons in the darkest moments of their lives. The value of that kind of service is immeasurable.

FFP Jamaica's parent organisation - Food For The Poor Inc, located in the United States - is the largest international relief and development organisation in that country. The interdenominational Christian organisation assists the poor in 17 countries in the Caribbean and Latin America. In Jamaica, that work has provided more than material aid to those in need - it has given hope to the hopeless and returned joy to those who hurt.

FFP Jamaica partners with a number of stakeholders, including churches, non-governmental and private-sector organisations, children's homes and service organisations across the island that deal directly with the poor to fill their most urgent needs and to encourage self-sufficiency. FFP Jamaica has stated that its work reflects God's unconditional love. Those who have witnessed FFP Jamaica at work could scarcely disagree.

The stated purpose behind FFP Jamaica's work is made clear in its mandate: "Our mission is to link the churches, civic and other charity organisations already operating in areas of need, in a manner that helps both the materially poor and the poor in spirit."

This truly is God's work. It is for this reason that Food For The Poor Jamaica is the recipient of the 2016 Gleaner Honour Award for Voluntary Service.

Roof Over My Head - Jamaica Gleaner - 14 January 2017

                                               Sponsor Pauline Fearon, left, Kitanya Bruce and Mother Roxanne Williams.

After pouring out her all in The Gleaner on September 10, 2016, Roxanne Williams is back in a more cheerful mood saying thanks to all who have assisted her while she was at her lowest. She is now the owner of a house donated by Food For the Poor in December last year - just in time for Christmas. Williams says that she is now in a better place physically and mentally, having been able to provide a stable place to call home for her four children.

She shared how much of a struggle life has been for her since she was released from prison two years prior. She was unable to school her children or put a roof over their heads because she was unable to get a job to provide for their needs.

"We moved in one week after receiving the house. That was my Christmas and New Year's gift, and trust me, I've never felt this good in a long time. The first morning after we moved in my kids wake up and say, 'Mommy, we slept so good last night. Nobody fi shut door inna we face again or turn off the light pan we again'," she said, adding that she was moved to tears having heard that after all they had been through.

"Mi never live nowhere an mi always inna struggle fi sen mi children to school. Sometimes I can't even find food, so I'm thankful to Food For the Poor for the house, and to Pauline Fearon, owner of the Whitfield Bakery, for sponsoring my daughter, Kitanya Bruce, for the next three years she has in high school. I feel elated and my heart is more than happy" she told Family and Religion.

Williams says that she will now focus on schooling the three younger children, Ammade Bruce, eight 8; Towanna Clarke, five; and Qwanna Clarke, four.

"I don't have any subjects, but I'm willing to do whatever it takes to look after them and provide a proper meal for them at night. I want for them what I never had, and that includes a good education."

Pauline Fearon owns and operates the Whitfield Bakery and Pastries in Clarendon and will be sponsoring Kitanya through the James and Friends Education Programme, with which she has been affiliated for over eight years.

"It's extremely rewarding to assist persons in need, because people end up in situations because of various factors. But at the end of the day, if I can assist someone to get an education, then I will do my best to help" she said.

She provides a breakfast programme, which is a package that includes bread, bulla, and snacks to be used in the mornings before they go to school. Students also receive a small stipend for bus fare to pick up the items.

"I try to visit schools and do motivational speeches and I also provide a monthly allowance to assist with school expenses," added Fearon.

In response to Fearon's kind gesture, Kitanya says that she is very thankful to her for affording her the opportunity to get an education and promises to do her best.

"I pray God will bless them so they can help others."

"The happiness I'm feeling right now can't be explained. Looking back how far we have come ... . Right now it's not about me, it's about them, and I am trusting God to help me find a job so I can be able to provide for them. Again I'm saying thanks to all who assisted me and helped to get my kids back into school. I was on the road hustling juice, and because police constantly chasing vendors, I fell with the goods one day. Mi no give up, but I would like to try something else right now," said Williams.

A FAMILY OF 5 GETS NEW HOME - Jamaica Observer - June 24, 2016

It is often said that home is not a place, but a feeling. However, for Marvia Walters and her family, who lived in a tiny zinc shack, home is a sturdy roof over their heads and a comfortable bed to sleep in at nights.

The single mother and her five children, ages 3 to 17, are the first of two families to benefit from the 2016 initiative. The house was constructed recently in Mount George District, Yallahs, St Thomas by volunteers from the NCB Foundation and Food For The Poor Jamaica (FFPJ) who exchanged their business suits for hard hats and hammers.

This year, the NCB Foundation donated more than $950,000 towards the FFPJ Build-A-Home project, developed to provide homes for underprivileged families in Jamaica. In 2015, the joint team partnered to build two homes.

NCB Foundation is committed advancing building through involvement in activities aimed at positively impacting the lives of Jamaicans.

HALL OF FAME TRACK STAR BUILDS SCHOOL IN JAMAICA - Jamaica Star - June 22, 2016

Sixty preschoolers are set to access free education at the Pedro Plains Infant School in St. Elizabeth, which is being built by Hall of Fame track and field legend Donovan Bailey, and the Donovan Bailey Foundation (DBF).

Bailey, in partnership with Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation and Food For The Poor along with 25 enthusiastic volunteers are seeking to service critical education needs in Jamaica.

The new building, which is strategically positioned on the site of Pedro Plains Primary School will ease the transition from infant to primary school.

At present, a total of 40 Students attend the school.

Bailey who once held the 100m world record says he is enjoying the experience.

“What an experience, we are a few days into the DBF building with Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation and I am amazed at what these volunteers and local contractors have accomplished,” says Bailey.

The Pedro Plains Infant School according to Bailey will be the first of many schools that his foundation will partner on with the other entities.

Over the past six years, Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation however, has built 12 schools in partnership with Food For The Poor.

Karl Hale, founder of Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation is thrilled to be partnering with Bailey.

Hale said, “Donovan is a global icon and is always gracious with his time. The school that we build will impact children for generations to come. It’s the 20th anniversary of Donovan’s Olympic Gold Medals and Helping Hands volunteers are excited to be part of another school build.”

Source: http://jamaica-star.com/article/features/20160622/hall-fame-track-star-builds-school-jamaica#.V2r0luZEBZM.facebook

MAKING A DIFFERENCE AT PAPINE HIGH SCHOOL - Corporate Hands - June 16, 2016

The Joan Duncan Foundation, in partnership with Food - For The Poor Jamaica, recently handed over a greenhouse to Papine High School, which values approximately $1 million.

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20160616/making-difference-papine-high

Here, Kim Mair (left), CEO, Joan Duncan Foundation, holds one of the sweet peppers reaped from the greenhouse. Sharing in the moment are: Mark Jones (centre), Agricultural Science teacher and Audrey Deer-Williams, director, Joan Duncan Foundation. The greenhouse was constructed in July 2015 and is being used to educate the students in the subject of agricultural science.

Patricia Sutherland (centre), chairman, Joan Duncan Foundation, picks sweet peppers along with David Mair (left), executive director, Food For The Poor Jamaica. Sharing in the moment is Denzil Garrison, sixth-form student of the school.

FOOD FOR THE POOR 5K RAISES J$53 MILLION - News Release - June 3, 2016

2016 Food For The Poor Jamaica's 5K Winner.

Kingston, Jamaica – June 1, 2016: Sixty poverty-stricken families will have the comfort of new two-bedroom houses from Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica later this year, thanks to the J$53 million donated by individuals, companies and others during the charity organisation’s second annual 5K Run/Walk held on May 7 in Kingston, Jamaica.

Andrew Mahfood, CEO, FFP Jamaica, said these families will benefit in a phase basis in upcoming months.

“Hundreds of poverty-stricken families are currently on our waiting list for houses,” Mahfood said in a recent interview, “They are in dire need, many of whom are single mothers with their children, who are suffering bitterly without a proper housing structure with necessary facilities that are in accordance with good standards of living.”

Approximately, $46.5 million was raised from the first 5K Run/Walk in May last year with over 50 houses built.

“Food For The Poor Jamaica is extremely grateful for the support received both in 2015 and 2016 during the 5K Run/Walk. No charity can survive without the support system of their nation. We are happy that individuals, the private and public sectors, groups from all 14 parishes across, members of our diaspora and people living outside of Jamaica, decided to support us through contributions, pledges and donations through the internet,” Mahfood said.
The funds raised were matched equally by Food For The Poor Florida.
In 2015, approximately 842 houses were constructed by FFP Jamaica. While other houses were constructed by other Food For The Poor organisations in Latin America and Caribbean countries including Trinidad & Tobago, Honduras, St Vincent, Guyana, Haiti, Belize, Guatemala and Nicaragua.
Food For The Poor, one of the largest international relief and development organisations, started in Jamaica in 1938 with the objective of distributing food items through churches, but have now expanded to address housing, education, health care, prison ministry, agriculture and social outreach.

-end-

GOVERNMENT OF TAIWAN DONATES RICE TO FOOD FOR THE POOR - News Release - June 3, 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (June 2, 2016) As Haiti endures its worst food crisis in more than a decade, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is donating 3,380 metric tons of rice to the country this year through Food For The Poor. That is the equivalent of 169 tractor-trailer loads of rice.

The generosity of Taiwan's donation comes at a crucial time as Haiti is facing its worst food crisis in more than 15 years, according to the United Nations World Food Programme. Floods in recent weeks have drowned crops in the north while droughts have withered them in the south. A three-year drought exacerbated by the El Niño weather phenomenon has left Haitian farmers facing massive crop losses, driven people into poverty and hunger, and doubled the number of food-insecure people since September 2015, according to the U.N. agency.

The lifesaving rice will be shipped in four instalments in July, August, September and October.

Taiwan's outgoing President Ma Ying-jeou explained why Taiwan supports the people of Haiti during a visit to the nation last July. "There are two main reasons — the first is because I myself was a recipient of aid and rice. The international community supported Taiwan with donations in the 1950s. The second reason is truly because of solidarity," he said.

Food For The Poor and Taiwan have partnered since 2005 to positively impact lives of the poor.

Rice is a major staple in Haiti, and by networking with partners such as Taiwan, Food For The Poor is able to feed countless hungry children each day. The latest donation of 3,380 metric tons of rice will provide nearly 30 million servings.

Food For The Poor will distribute the donated rice to sponsored programs, one of which is the charity's feeding center in Port-au-Prince. Approximately 15,000 hot meals are cooked and distributed from this location six days a week.

Since the 2010 earthquake, through the generosity of its donors, the charity has built more than 5,900 homes in Haiti – and nearly 24,000 housing units since its inception. In 2015, Food For The Poor shipped 1,194 tractor-trailer loads of needed supplies to Haiti.

"Food For The Poor and the people of Haiti are sincerely appreciative of the rice donated by the Taiwanese," said Robin Mahfood, President/CEO of Food For The Poor. "The people of Taiwan are world leaders in the production of rice, enabling them to feed the destitute living in developing countries. This is a bountiful blessing for the hungry, and we sincerely thank Taiwan's President for this precious, lifesaving gift."

Food For The Poor, one of the largest international relief and development organizations 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.

Michael Turnbell
Public Relations Associate

6401 Lyons Road,
Coconut Creek, FL 33073
954.427.2222 ext. 6054
www.FoodForThePoor.org