At Food For The Poor, feeding the hungry is at the heart of our mission. We prioritize the preservation of human dignity and compassionate care for those in need. Our approach to poverty is rooted in sustainable, community-driven solutions that empower long-term change. From 2019 to 2023, we provided 943 million meals and delivered $3.2 billion in aid to communities across Latin America and the Caribbean. Our growing network of donors and volunteers shares our belief that poverty is not inevitable—it is solvable. Join us in the fight: spread the word, shop from our Humanitarian Gift Catalog, or become a donor today.
In times of crisis, every second counts. Natural disasters strike with little warning, leaving vulnerable communities in urgent need of food, clean water, and shelter. That’s why we’re committed to pre-positioning emergency relief supplies—storing critical aid in strategic locations ahead of the 2025 hurricane season.
This proactive approach ensures that lifesaving resources are ready to move the moment disaster hits, reaching families faster and more effectively. With your support, we can respond not just quickly, but with compassion and impact—because when everything is at stake, timing is everything.
Catch up With Beyond the Plate Podcast Season 1 and 2
Join Paul and Danny live in the studio for Season 1 and 2 of Beyond the Plate as they engage in thought-provoking conversations with a powerful lineup of guests. From Barron Segar, CEO of World Food Program USA, and Monica Majors of World Central Kitchen, to Steve Urchin, manager of Sean Paul, and global music icon Shaggy, each episode dives deep into stories that go far beyond feeding the hungry. This season shines a light on thought leaders, innovators, and changemakers who are breaking the cycle of poverty and driving lasting impact through compassion and creativity.
You'll also hear inspiring perspectives from Cedella Marley, daughter of the legendary Bob Marley, Christian singer Blanca, and beloved Hispanic star Angélica Vale, as they share how uniting communities through sustainable development can create meaningful, long-term change. Tune in for powerful stories of hope, resilience, and real solutions that uplift lives and nourish the soul.
INVEST IN STYLE, SUPPORT A GREAT CAUSE
Support our Empowering Women Through Sewing project, an initiative dedicated to helping women from underserved communities in Guatemala and Honduras achieve sustainable incomes. Through this program, participants refine their craftsmanship at our training centers, learning to create high-quality handcrafted handbags and other unique products.
To further this mission, we’ve launched a pilot gift program featuring a selection of our handcrafted handbags. This initiative explores a model where everyday purchases—like a handbag—not only fulfill personal needs but also contribute to a meaningful cause.
A Mercado Global handbag isn’t just an accessory—it’s a meaningful gift that represents hope and resilience. When you shop on our website you're making the statement that poverty isn't inevitable.
Every purchase helps create a stable economic environment within impoverished communities, which can lead to food security and reduce dependency on aid. It’s an investment in breaking the cycle of poverty through fair trade practices that uplift entire communities.
Each handbag is a unique piece of art, handcrafted by skilled artisans who draw on traditional techniques passed down through generations. This supports cultural preservation while giving artisans a source of pride and financial independence.
Handbags are ethically crafted, prioritizing fair labor practices and sustainable production. With each purchase, you’re helping prove that we can tackle poverty through sustainable community development.
Buying a Mercado Global handbag provides sustainable income for artisans in marginalized communities, directly helping them support their families. By working part-time, artisans can make up to $8 a day, which is enough to lift themselves out of poverty over the course of a few months of engagement.
By shopping with us, you’re supporting a test initiative designed to demonstrate that we can build a sustainable, closed-loop system between our micro-enterprise programs and an online marketplace. If the test is successful we'll be able to scale up our programs.
How Hunger Relief Becomes a Foundation for Self-Sufficiency
Programs such as Empowering Women Through Sewing and Angels of Hope are created to empower beneficiaries to achieve self-sufficiency and inspire them to build strong, supportive communities. We are committed to finding simple, effective ways to fight hunger and poverty without causing harm to the people or the countries we serve. To ensure a lasting impact, Food For The Poor takes a holistic approach, working closely with in-country partners who implement solutions based on their specific areas of expertise. Explore each focus area to learn more about our initiatives.
Focus:1
Hunger Relief & Food Security
Urgent needs such as malnutrition or undernutrition need to be addressed before treating other poverty causes.
Economic empowerment enables families to steadily achieve a sustainable income and ultimately attain self-reliance. It is especially critical in remote areas.
Economic empowerment enables families to steadily achieve a sustainable income and ultimately attain self-reliance. It is especially critical in remote areas.
COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Jan. 12, 2026) — Food For The Poor (FFTP) presented its prestigious Cornerstone Award to Nativity Catholic Church in Burke, Va., on Sunday, […]
COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Jan. 7, 2026) – The Commonwealth of Virginia, in coordination with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM), announced this week the donation […]
COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Jan. 6, 2026) – Food For The Poor (FFTP) will honor Nativity Catholic Church with its prestigious Cornerstone Award on Sunday, Jan. 11, […]
FFTP Magazines: FALL edition available for download
In our latest edition, we highlight how faith, compassion, and community are transforming lives across Latin America and the Caribbean.
This issue focuses on the growing crises of hunger and poverty, and how Food For The Poor and partners are responding with hope. We feature the story of Semana Santa (Holy Week)—a cherished tradition now embraced as a season of service, with communities distributing meals, collecting donations, and engaging youth in acts of kindness.
We also share the inspiring journey of Santiago, a young boy in El Salvador with a rare genetic disorder. With no local treatment available, his family found hope through the support of FUSAL, Duke University Hospital, and our generous donors—leading to life-saving care and a new path forward.
The work of partners like CEPUDO in Honduras is also highlighted, along with programs like From Seeds to Market, which help families grow food and build self-reliance. This edition is a testament to how generosity is making a lasting impact in the lives of those in greatest need.
In this blog, you will step into the communities of Chuaxan and La Merced in Guatemala and see how local feeding centers are providing life-changing nutrition and support for children and their families. You will learn why child malnutrition is so severe in this region, how mothers and staff work […]
Why Children in Latin America and the Caribbean Face Malnutrition and How You Can Help Malnutrition harms children in lasting ways. It slows growth, weakens the immune system, and makes learning difficult. Across Latin America and the Caribbean, many families face extreme poverty that leaves their children without the nutrition […]
