National Hispanic Heritage Month: Honduran Families Celebrate New Homes and Hope, Thanks to Indiana Church and FFTP
COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Sept. 25, 2025) – Families in the rural community of Cucuyagua, Honduras, are celebrating a new beginning as they move into safe, sturdy homes built through the generosity of parishioners at St. Mary’s Church in Greensburg, Ind., with Food For The Poor (FFTP).
For years, families in the area lived in fragile homes of cardboard, plastic, or rented spaces without reliable water or power. Today, thanks to the parish’s commitment to raise $1 million, 53 homes, an air-conditioned community center, and vital infrastructure including clean water and electricity are being built.
The joy of these families moving into the first homes completed is evident as they begin their lives in a secure environment where their children can dream of a brighter future.
Claudia, a mother of school-aged children, described her life before moving into her new home.
“We lived in a small house made of cardboard and plastic,” she said. “When it rained, it flooded, and we lost our few belongings. It was a critical situation, especially for my children.”
Today, she says her family enjoys safety and stability: “We wake up in a safe place, bathe, have breakfast as a family, and enjoy peace,” she said. “It’s immense happiness.”
For Lindolfo and Rosa, the new home has transformed their family’s health and restored dignity.
“We lived in very difficult conditions. We had no water or bathroom and had to go to the woods for our needs,” Lindolfo said. “Today, with this home, we feel like we’ve been born again. It’s a tremendous joy.”
The milestone comes as the nation commemorates National Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to honor the resilience, culture, and contributions of Hispanic communities. For FFTP, it’s also an opportunity to highlight the strength and perseverance of families in Latin America who inspire hope through their determination to build better lives.
In October, a group from St. Mary’s Church will return to Honduras to meet these families, celebrate with them, and see firsthand the completion of the first homes.
Tom Ricke, one of the parishioners who helped inspire the effort, said his first encounter with families in Honduras left an indelible impression — and he looks forward to being with them again soon.
“When we first met families in Honduras, they had so little, yet their hearts were full of joy and gratitude,” Tom said. “Their faith was unbelievable, and I knew we had to help. This wasn’t just about one family or one house. It was about giving an entire community a chance at a better life. We can’t wait to return and share in their joy as they settle into their new homes.”
His wife, Susan, shared that it was the suffering of children that struck her most deeply. “As a mother, hearing that children were going hungry was incomprehensible to me,” she said. “I felt called to act, and when we shared that call with our parish, the response was overwhelming. Seeing these families move into safe homes today is truly a miracle.”
St. Mary’s parishioners were first moved to act after hearing FFTP clergy speaker Fr. Carlton Beever share stories of the urgent need for housing in Honduras. For the Rickes, that call resonated deeply with a promise Tom made to God decades earlier, when Susan survived a sudden health crisis that inspired them both to dedicate their lives to serving others. From that spark, the parish launched an ambitious campaign that quickly grew into a $1 million effort to build homes and a new community in Cucuyagua.
Greensburg Mayor Joshua Marsh, who traveled with parishioners to witness the project’s progress, said he was especially inspired by the community-driven development and is eager to reconnect
“What inspired me most was that this project went beyond building homes. It’s about creating a stable community — education, leadership, health, and opportunity,” Marsh said. “I’m proud that St. Mary’s, our largest church, has led such an extraordinary effort, and that Greensburg can be part of something that connects our small town with a rural community in Honduras in such a meaningful way.”
Watch FFTP’s Beyond the Plate podcast to learn more about how St. Mary’s parishioners and the Greensburg community launched a powerful movement of compassion to help this struggling community in Honduras.
Since 1999, FFTP has worked in Honduras alongside its in-country partner CEPUDO to implement sustainable development initiatives that uplift communities through housing, health care, education, and livelihood projects.
FFTP President/CEO Ed Raine emphasized that the project embodies the mission of the organization.
“This is the heart of Food For The Poor’s mission to walk alongside families as they move from hardship to hope,” Raine said. “Thanks to the faithful generosity of St. Mary’s parish and their partners, entire families now live with safety, clean water, and restored dignity. These homes are not just walls and roofs. They are places where children can thrive, parents can dream, and communities can flourish.”
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]
