One of the things that I have found most inspiring since coming to work at Food For The Poor is our donors’ dedication.
I have heard many stories about individuals or groups who have traveled to Haiti or Jamaica three, six, 10 times. They see that the need in these countries persists, and they persevere: asking family and friends to contribute, hosting fundraising events, working alongside families and teachers to build homes and schools.
A perfect example of this enduring commitment to Food For The Poor and the people we serve is Operation Starfish.
This fundraising initiative, which has been so beautifully embraced by Church of the Nativity in Burke, Virginia, was founded by Fr. Richard Martin in 1998. Fifteen years later, the church’s parishioners have helped build more than 1,000 houses in eight “Nativity Villages” in Haiti. But that’s only the beginning.
Jim McDaniel, a Program Specialist at Food For The Poor who helped establish Operation Starfish, estimates that the group has helped approximately 83,000 people through their efforts. That number includes those for whom homes were built, children who have benefited from the construction of schools, patients at clinics, employees who have learned new skills in vocational training programs and those who have received health education.
The success of Operation Starfish has led to an expansion of the program which enables churches, schools and other organizations to build homes, install water wells, educate children, develop microenterprise projects and feed the hungry through sacrificial giving.
To learn more about how you help, visit www.foodforthepoor.org/starfish or www.starfishmission.org.