FFTP and Partners Deliver Rice, Baby Supplies, and Medical Relief in Central America
COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Sept. 12, 2025) – Families in some of the most vulnerable communities in Central America and the Caribbean are receiving urgently needed food and medical support through the efforts of Food For The Poor (FFTP) and its partners.
In Santa María de Jesús, Guatemala, the community hardest hit by a recent earthquake, the Order of Malta has delivered 1.8 tons of rice that FFTP received from the Republic of China (Taiwan). This donation will benefit up to 10,000 people annually.
“Santa María de Jesús has endured enormous challenges, and this rice is more than food. It is hope and stability for families working to rebuild their lives,” said Jeff Alexander, FFTP EVP/Chief Administrative & Financial Officer, who represented the organization at a ceremony on Tuesday in Guatemala. “We are grateful to our partners who share our vision of lifting communities from crisis toward resilience.”
FFTP also welcomed a new partner, the SimplyHelp Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles. Since 2000, SimplyHelp has worked in 30 countries, with a strong presence in Central America and Southeast Asia, providing emergency disaster relief and vocational training.
Through this new collaboration, SimplyHelp donated two containers of baby supplies to Guatemala – one distributed through FFTP’s trusted partner Cáritas Arquidiocesana and another through the Order of Malta. Additional containers of baby supplies have been allocated to Honduras, Jamaica, and El Salvador, further expanding the reach of this life-saving support, with more shipments planned for Guatemala.
Also participating in Tuesday’s ceremony were Taiwan’s Ambassador to Guatemala, Vivia Chun-Fei Chang; SimplyHelp Founder and Executive Director, Tina Bow; and Enrique Hegel, President of the Order of Malta in Guatemala.
“These donations ensure that parents don’t have to choose between feeding their children and other basic needs,” Alexander said. “Together with our partners, we are bringing relief where it is needed most and offering a foundation for long-term recovery.”
In addition, the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF) is funding a one-time medical brigade in Santa María de Jesús, in collaboration with Cáritas Arquidiocesana. Medical brigades provide free basic healthcare to those who cannot afford it.
FFTP’s partnership with the Taiwanese government and TaiwanICDF dates to 2007. In 2024, Taiwan expanded its generosity through large-scale donations of rice distributed by the Order of Malta and Cáritas Arquidiocesana, reaching more than 400,000 people. In 2025, Taiwan has continued this commitment, and FFTP expects to reach nearly the same number of beneficiaries again this year.
“Our longstanding partnership with Taiwan has been a lifeline for countless families across the region,” Alexander said. “Their ongoing support allows us to respond swiftly when disaster strikes and to sustain long-term programs that give hope and security to vulnerable communities.”
About Food For The Poor
Food For The Poor, one of the largest international relief and development organizations in the United States, is committed to facilitating paths out of poverty and transforming lives. As an interdenominational Christian ministry, we help families across Latin America and the Caribbean. Our efforts span urgent humanitarian relief and long-term development – from emergency aid and hunger alleviation to education, housing, and economic empowerment. We follow a distinctive approach that integrates faith, multi-sector strategies, and trusted partnerships. Whenever possible, we strive to work at the community level, partnering with local leaders and residents to co-create sustainable solutions that address the multi-dimensional nature of poverty. For more information, please visit foodforthepoor.org.
Michael Turnbell
Communications
954-471-0928
[email protected]
