Why automatic withdrawals?

By reducing our processing and postage costs, automatic withdrawals allow more of your donation to go toward supporting your sponsored child. Automatic withdrawals are also more convenient and frees you from writing checks and paying for postage.

Will I be able to select my child?

All children in this program need and deserve the love and support of an Angel Of Hope. In an effort to be as fair and helpful as possible, we prayerfully select a child for you based on greatest need. This method of selection not only allows us to meet the greatest needs first, it also reduces our administrative expenses by not having to match requested criteria to a particular child.

If your sponsored child leaves their home to live with relatives or because he or she has reached adulthood, you will be notified and given the opportunity to sponsor another child.

What are the children’s homes like?

We select homes that have established themselves as trusted, respected and ethical institutions. We take our time to develop a relationship and an understanding of each home before we invite them to participate in the Angels Of Hope program. These homes help children grow and develop mentally and physically in a loving environment. Our coordinators regularly visit and communicate with each home to ensure we are aware of their needs and able to provide them with the best support possible.

Each home is different and serves a different population of children. Some homes maintain a school on the same property, while others have beautiful farms or vocational training programs. Children come to our Angels Of Hope program from different family backgrounds. Some children live at the homes, receiving an education on scholarship and a stable living environment that their parents cannot afford. Other children may have been placed in the home by local governing authorities because of alleged neglect or abuse. Still others might be truly orphaned, while some have been abandoned and have no relatives able to care for them. The Angels Of Hope program works to supply the necessary resources so that each home’s staff is able to provide a high, integrated quality of care. But even in the best environment, all children want to know that someone has a special place in their heart just for them. That’s what you can do. You are their Angel!

Note: AOH does not manage any of the homes.

What will I receive when I sponsor a child?

Once your first payment is processed, it takes approximately 3 weeks for you to receive a Welcome Packet in the mail.  Included in the packet is a brief bio and photo of your child, photo frame magnet, country fact sheet, information about the program and blank stationery to write to your sponsored child.

If you prefer, you can submit a letter to your child online at: www.foodforthepoor.org/write.

You will also receive an updated annual photo of your child.  How special it is to see your child growing and maturing each year. 

Your child will write to you twice per year.  The first cycle of child letters is mailed to sponsors between April to June.  The second cycle of child letters is mailed during September to November.  Depending on when your sponsorship started, you may miss the first child letter writing cycle.

We also mail two times per year our Spring and Fall Newsletters.  They are filled with beautiful stories and photos about the children in the AOH program. A digital version is also available on our website.

Will I be able to correspond with my child?

Corresponding with your child is a special way to build that lasting bond and relationship. Your sponsored child will correspond with you twice a year, and you will have an opportunity to write back at those times.  Please include your child’s first name (*) and correspondence # on all letters, cards, etc. to ensure they are delivered to the right child.

Children who are too young to write or have special needs will send a handprint or drawing.  A caregiver at the home will write a message to you on behalf of the child. Your sponsored child will eagerly anticipate a letter or any form of correspondence from you. Even sending photographs of your family life or a postcard with a caring note can lift your child’s spirits and become a meaningful experience for him or her.     

If you prefer, you can submit a letter to your child online at: www.foodforthepoor.org/write.

* Using only the child’s first name protects the identity and adds security for underage children.

Can I send gifts to my sponsored child?

As part of your Angels Of Hope sponsorship, the children’s home where your sponsored child lives will help celebrate your child’s birthday as well as Christmas — two special occasions in every child’s life. You can send an additional donation to make these events even more festive at your child’s home, especially as there are many children who do not have sponsors.

Please do not send packages or any physical gifts such as toys, stuffed animals, books, etc. These types of items incur additional costs to deliver.  We cannot guarantee items will not get lost in transit, nor can we ensure when the gift items will arrive in-country.

You may send additional gifts to your sponsored child, but they should be small, paper items attached to your letter that will fit into the envelope.  Please include child’s first name and correspondence # on all additional gifts. For example, bookmarks, cards, stickers, pictures of you and your family, etc., are fun, easy to send and help forge the bond between you and your sponsored child.   When the child receives the physical gifts is unpredictable as we depend on when container shipments leave our main office.

Can I send my child a birthday or Christmas present?

Each home has its own way of celebrating birthdays. Some homes host one party per month for all the children celebrating birthdays, while others may do something special on each individual day. Through your sponsorship, we send funding to the homes for the children’s birthdays.  For Christmas, we provide funds for a special holiday meal as well as a present for each child in the program.  So you are already sending them a birthday and Christmas present!

Any additional donations would be greatly appreciated to help offset program expenses for those children who do not have a sponsor.

Why does my child’s bio have only his age and not his birth date?

Many of our children do not have legal documents, such as a birth certificate. Oftentimes, children born to impoverished families may not have ever had a birth certificate, or it was lost along the way. As a result, many of the children’s ages are estimated when they arrive to the homes. As the children receive proper nutrition and care, it may turn out that they are in fact older than initially estimated. Therefore, program-wide, we feature ages (which are sometimes only estimates), and not birthdays.

We also do not provide the full birth date as a form of identity protection for the child.

Why do I only use my child’s first name in my letters?

Using only the child’s first name protects their identity and adds security for underage children.

How do I find out the name of the children’s home where my child lives?

For the safety and security of the children, we do not provide the name of the children’s home or the city.  We only provide the name of the country.

Does my sponsored child know my full name and address?

In order to protect your privacy, we only share your first name with your sponsored child.  We do not provide your address, city or state location. 

What happens if my child leaves the home?

If your sponsored child leaves the home, whether he or she is adopted, moves in with relatives, or becomes an adult, you will be notified and invited to sponsor another child.

A note about adoptions …

Food For The Poor is not a licensed adoption agency, and this program should in no way be construed as an adoption opportunity.

For more information, please contact Angels Of Hope:

Telephone: (954) 427-2222, ext. 6608 Email: angelsofhope@foodforthepoor.org