Food For The Poor Surpasses Goal to Build 30 Homes for Families in Bondeau, Haiti
COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Oct. 23, 2025) – Food For The Poor (FFTP) has surpassed its goal to build 30 new homes for families in Bondeau, Haiti, thanks to the overwhelming generosity of donors who supported the 26th Annual Celebration of Hope Gala on Oct. 4, chaired by longtime FFTP Board Member Dr. Lynne Nasrallah.
Donors contributed enough to fund nearly 32 homes, with additional gifts still coming in — a reflection of the deep compassion and commitment shared by the FFTP community.
The homes will provide safety, dignity, and stability to families who have endured years of hardship following Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and the devastating 2021 earthquake. The Bondeau project builds on the legacy of previous Celebration of Hope campaigns that have transformed entire communities across Haiti.
“Every stone, every wall, every home built in Bondeau is a powerful expression of faith in action,” said FFTP President/CEO Ed Raine. “This project represents the heart of what Food For The Poor stands for, and that is turning compassion into tangible change and restoring hope for families who have suffered for too long. We are deeply grateful to all who gave so generously.”
Nasrallah, who has chaired the Celebration of Hope Gala for 26 years, said this year’s milestone was especially meaningful.
“For nearly three decades, we have stood shoulder to shoulder with the people of Haiti,” Nasrallah said. “To see 30 families in Bondeau receive safe, sturdy homes is an answered prayer. These homes are more than structures; they are symbols of God’s love and mercy made visible.”
This outpouring of generosity brings a ray of hope to Haiti amid one of its most challenging chapters. Gang violence, political turmoil, and crippling fuel shortages have disrupted daily life across much of the country. Though Bondeau lies outside the areas of greatest unrest, families there continue to struggle with food insecurity, isolation, and limited government support.
The first phase of the Housing for Bondeau project, developed in partnership with South Florida Haiti Project (SFHP) and FFTP-Haiti, will impact approximately 32 homeowners and, at an average of four people per home, their family members.
Each home will be built using reinforced concrete blocks, elevated foundations, and hurricane-resistant zinc roofs. Homes will feature two bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, bathroom, and porch, along with essential furnishings such as beds, a kerosene stove, and a solar light kit.
Since 2009, SFHP, a coalition of Episcopal churches and individuals, has supported Bondeau through education, healthcare, and access to clean water, while emphasizing Haitian leadership and local decision-making. The organization works closely with Bon Samaritan Episcopal School in Haiti, which serves over 3,500 students.
Committee member Lisa Padilla Ortiz, who has supported the gala for more than 20 years with her mother, Nancy Padilla, reflected on how her firsthand encounters with poverty shaped her commitment. “It’s one thing to see poverty in pictures, but another to stand face to face with a mother living in a tarp shack and see the hope in her eyes,” Ortiz said. “That’s when you understand the power of giving — and why we must never turn away.”
Committee member Nancy Padilla, who has joined multiple mission trips to Haiti and the Dominican Republic and also has supported the gala for more than 20 years, said witnessing the conditions of families without safe shelter has changed her life. “When I think of those mothers holding their babies in the dark, I’m reminded how blessed we are and how much we can do to make a difference,” Padilla said. “For a Haitian family, a home from Food For The Poor is truly a dream come true.”
Other Celebration of Hope Gala committee members include: Linda Bonnewitz, Bruny and Paula Compas, George and Kim del Campo, Mike and Dr. Desirae Friend, Cynthia Hawkins, Nicole Nasrallah, George and Joanne Olson, Dwight and Lisa Saathoff, honorary, Tom and Jean Wilkes, honorary, and Jean and Donna Wilson, honorary.
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]
