Food for the Poor, Inc. - Hunger

FFP provides food to millions of starving people in the Caribbean and Latin America, including school children, orphans and the elderly. FFP partners with churches, schools, hospitals, missionaries and many charitable organizations.

How do you help people in my community?

Food For The Poor operates and supports feeding programs that feed millions of people regularly. To accomplish this, we partner with churches, schools, hospitals, missionaries and charitable organizations such as the Salvation Army, Caritas, the American-Nicaraguan Foundation, the Knights of Malta and others. Food For The Poor provided more than 54.4 million pounds of food to countless malnourished children and their families in 2007.

Food For The Poor feeds millions of destitute children and their families in the Caribbean and Latin America. Through our expansive network of distribution hubs, Food For The Poor supports thousands of partners in feeding the poorest of the poor. These organizations are located throughout the countries we serve.

Food For The Poor also maintains a longstanding partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on projects that provide food and milk for schoolchildren and their families, and which promote agricultural education in impoverished communities. In 2007, more than 22.8 million pounds of food were distributed to impoverished communities in Jamaica and Guatemala through USDA grants. In addition, the USDA’s Food For Progress program in Jamaica provides small farmers and families with seeds, tools, agricultural training and techniques to successfully market their crops.
Whenever the need arises, Food For The Poor stands ready to send immediate assistance to those who are affected by natural disasters. The 2007 hurricane season brought an enormous amount of damage and destruction to several countries in the Caribbean and Latin America. Jamaica, Nicaragua, Haiti and the Dominican Republic were particularly affected by the severe weather. Both immediate and long-term relief are needed following such disasters. In response to the devastation caused by Hurricanes Dean, Felix and Tropical Storm Noel, Food For The Poor sent 310 tractor-trailer loads of relief supplies to countries devastated by these storms. After the tsunami in Indonesia in 2004, Food For The Poor assisted by providing relief supplies to devastated areas.

Food For The Poor also responds to help victims of local disasters. Following the devastation caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma in 2005, Food For The Poor partnered with local churches and other organizations to bring relief to those affected in states along the Gulf Coast.

Why do you need my support?

The work that Food For The Poor accomplishes in the Caribbean Basin can only become a reality through the generosity of those who like ourselves, have compassion for God’s people and want to become God’s hand at work easing the suffering of our poorest brothers and sisters.  Our sincere desire is to lift as many as we can out of poverty.

How can I be sure that you will use my money wisely and won't waste it?

Food For The Poor has continually maintained a remarkable efficiency level in all of its operations.  During 2007, the administrative cost ratio was the lowest ever, an impressive 3.22%!  Forbes Magazine rated Food For The Poor as having a 97% fundraising efficiency rating as well as a 96% charitable commitment ratio.

Food For The Poor has grown every year, doubling in size every three years, and this expansion has provided the opportunity for extensive purchasing and shipping effectiveness.  Ministry Watch and Charity Navigator have both awarded Food For The Poor their highest efficiency ratings.  The continuing amounts of USDA and USAID grants are a further testimony and reflect the US government’s satisfaction with the control and distribution of food aid.

Can I Volunteer? How?

Food For The Poor offers our donors the opportunity to travel with us on mission trips to the Third World at a nominal cost, and experience first-hand the extreme needs that exist.  You will see God’s grace in action and discover why our work is so important to the missionaries who depend on us.
These journeys inevitably become life-changing experiences.

The countries where we work have extremely high unemployment rates, and we create opportunities for local employment through our home building projects.  Many organizations that we work with have adopted communities in the areas we serve, and become partners with Food For The Poor in bringing assistance to those areas.  Whether the assistance is housing, water wells, schools, clinics, feeding or a self-help project, a visit to the community provides a first-hand awareness of the need.

Food For The Poor sponsors many fund-raising events throughout the United States, and welcomes your participation.   For information about local events, visit our website at www.foodforthepoor.org.