FFTP Brings Christmas Freedom to Nonviolent Prisoners Through Prison Ministry Program
COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Dec. 23, 2025) – As Christians around the world celebrate the birth of Christ and the promise of redemption, Food For The Poor (FFTP) is helping extend that promise in a tangible way this Christmas by restoring freedom to seven nonviolent offenders through its longstanding Prison Ministry Program.
For more than two decades, with the support of compassionate donors, FFTP has secured the release of incarcerated men and women in Haiti, Jamaica, and Guyana by paying outstanding fines tied to nonviolent offenses.
Many of those released were jailed for acts rooted in extreme poverty, including stealing food to feed their families, or for minor infractions that would not typically result in prolonged incarceration elsewhere.
Six prisoners were released from four prisons in northern Haiti. Everyone received food, shoes, clothing, and transportation assistance to help them return safely to their communities.
One beneficiary, Nafrance, 39, described how the experience reshaped his outlook after months of detention at the Civil Prison of Cap-Haitien.
“The time I spent in detention made me reflect deeply on my choices and the importance of earning a living in a lawful way,” Nafrance said. “This experience has given me the opportunity to start again and focus on building a stable future through my skills.”
In Jamaica, one prisoner was released last week from the St. Catherine Correctional Centre. In Guyana, no inmates met FFTP’s established criteria for release under this program, according to the Guyana Prison Service.
FFTP President/CEO Ed Raine said the Prison Ministry Program reflects the heart of the Christmas story, with mercy, restoration, and the belief that lives can be transformed.
“At Christmas, we remember that Christ came to bring freedom, hope, and redemption,” Raine said. “This ministry is a reflection of that message. By offering a second chance to those imprisoned for nonviolent offenses, we are affirming their dignity and reminding them that their story is not over. We are grateful to our donors who make it possible to turn compassion into action during this sacred season.”
Support the Prison Ministry Program by sending checks payable to Food For The Poor at 6401 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek, FL 33073. Please include reference number “SC# 074122” for proper routing. Online donations can also be made at https://foodforthepoor.org/?form=prisonersrelease.
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]
