FFTP Celebrates Inaugural Food For The Poor Day With Community Event and Concert
COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (May 10, 2024) – Food For The Poor (FFTP) opened its doors to the community on Tuesday for the charity’s first Food For The Poor Day, a celebration of the charity’s mission and history in Coconut Creek.
It culminated with a soul-stirring concert by Jamaican gospel recording artist Glacia Robinson, who performed songs from her latest album, “Hands of Mercy,” which is dedicated to FFTP.
The Cason Kids Chorus from Cason United Methodist Church in Delray Beach, Fla., joined Robinson on the stage for two songs, along with the Crusetones, a band of FFTP team members.
During the day, community members toured FFTP’s Coconut Creek headquarters and warehouse and packed 1,920 disaster hygiene kits for the charity’s response to the crisis in Haiti.
Guests also tried out a virtual reality headset that transported them to one of the countries where FFTP helps families living in poverty. And they learned more about all the components of one of the charity’s sustainable community developments in Honduras through an interactive digital kiosk on display in FFTP’s lobby.
For 27 seventh-graders from Highlands Christian Academy in Pompano Beach, participating in the packing event was not only educational, but profound and personal.
“Many of our students hail from families directly touched by the countries served by Food For The Poor,” teacher Rose Brisco said. “When the students see the things that they use every day, like wash cloths and toothpaste, they’re going to remember that when they pray for a particular country because they packed kits that will benefit families in that country.”
Linda Coello, President and Founder of CEPUDO, FFTP’s longtime partner in Honduras, said the kits packed by volunteers are a blessing to families affected by natural disasters, such as the back-to-back hurricanes that devastated Honduras in 2020.
“What you’re doing with your hands and lots of love is going to help many families in Honduras,” said Coello, who joined the group in assembling the kits filled with essentials such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, and wash cloths, and personal handwritten notes of encouragement.
Coconut Creek Mayor Sandra L. Welch was among the guests who took part in the tour and packed kits.
Last month, the Coconut Creek City Commission adopted a proclamation designating May 7, 2024, as Food For The Poor Day in the city of Coconut Creek.
Since Jan. 15, 2007, FFTP has been carrying out its mission at its 120,000-square-foot warehouse and headquarters at 6401 Lyons Road, with space for more than 300 employees. Volunteers come each week to help the charity sort goods and donations, pack kits, provide office and clerical support, and prepare for events.
Prior to moving to Coconut Creek, the charity had operated in three separate buildings in Deerfield Beach, Fla.
Welch said FFTP will kick off the city’s upcoming Creek Cares Campaign focusing on nonprofit organizations in the city.
“It was a wonderful, enlightening, powerful morning,” Welch said. “When I became mayor in March, one of the things I wanted to do was a video series of all the nonprofits that we are so fortunate to have in Coconut Creek.”
At the end of the day, guests filled FFTP’s prayer room for a concert by Robinson.
FFTP EVP & Chief Operating Officer Mark Khouri welcomed guests and thanked the city of Coconut Creek for its support.
“For over four decades, Food For The Poor has been dedicated to providing lifesaving relief and sustainable solutions to the most vulnerable,” Khouri said. “It’s a journey made possible by the significant support of the community and our donors who believe in power and generosity in action.”
FFTP President/CEO Ed Raine and his wife, Mary, who is from Jamaica, recounted about how “Go Tell Everyone” became one of the album’s signature tracks.
Mary Raine saw a video on FFTP helping families in Choloma, Honduras, and immediately the well-known hymn came to mind.
“‘Go tell everyone, the kingdom of God has come.’ We sang this song when we were young girls in catholic school,” she said. “It was all about going out and helping others.”
With Robinson’s album already in development, Ed Raine asked Robinson if she could add the song to the collection but with a reggae twist.
“It’s superstar song,” Mary Raine said. “I hope it’s motivational. I hope it brings happiness. Helping others is a joyful thing.”
Emerson Ally, who produced and recorded the album with his wife, said Robinson has always been supportive of helping others, which lines up with FFTP’s mission.
“It’s a cause that’s close to Glacia’s heart,” Ally said.
Robinson, an inductee in the Caribbean Gospel Music Hall of Fame, said she hopes that everyone who hears her music will be inspired.
“We’re called to touch people,” Robinson said. “We’re called to be the expression of God’s love to these people.”
Fifty percent of the proceeds from Robinson’s album will support FFTP programs.
In conjunction with Food For The Poor Day, the charity launched a food-match campaign to raise awareness about the critical issues of food insecurity, hunger, and malnutrition in support of the organization’s commitment to ending hunger. Every $1 given on Tuesday was matched to provide $3 worth of food up to $500,000.
About Glacia Robinson
Dr. Glacia Robinson is a multiple award-winning singer, songwriter, composer, producer, recording artist, recording engineer, an anointed minister of music, praise and worship leader, humanitarian, missionary, mentor, and author. She is also a Caribbean Hall of Fame inductee, a recipient of The Gospel Icon Award, from the Government of Jamaica, and the JaRIA Music Federation (The Jamaica Reggae Industry Association), and The Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award. Glacia is particularly passionate about giving back, embracing those who have been rejected and dejected by society and their situations. Her gifting has applauded the efforts of many charity organizations through the years. Humanitarians at heart, Glacia and Emerson are happy to partner with their main charity, Food For The Poor through the years.
About Food For The Poor
Food For The Poor, one of the largest international relief and development organizations in the nation, does much more than feed millions of hungry children and families living in poverty primarily in 15 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. This interdenominational Christian ministry provides emergency relief assistance, water, medicine, educational materials, homes, support for vulnerable children, care for the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance. For more information, please visit foodforthepoor.org.
Michael Turnbell
Communications
954-471-0928
[email protected]
