World Food Day: Food For The Poor Responds to Hunger Crisis Brought on by Pandemic
COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Oct. 16, 2020) Today, Food For The Poor joins other organizations and more than 150 countries to observe World Food Day to raise awareness of the issues surrounding poverty and hunger.
The day takes on even more critical importance this year as the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed more children and families living in poverty in the Caribbean and Latin America into greater food insecurity.
“Children and families who had very little before the pandemic now have absolutely nothing. We’re blessed with compassionate donors who continue to allow us to provide the beautiful gift of food,” said Food For The Poor EVP/Chief Marketing Officer Angel Aloma. “As an organization, we stand committed to finding solutions not only to help these families in crisis but also to help transform their lives with sustainable development solutions.”
World Food Day was created by the United Nations in 1979 to promote worldwide awareness and action for those who suffer from hunger and the need to ensure food security and nutritious diets for all.
Since mid-March, Food For The Poor has shipped 617 containers of food and other critical relief supplies, including 200 containers of rice from the Republic of China (Taiwan) that were sent to Haiti, as well as purchased the equivalent of 27 containers of food from businesses and suppliers in the countries. An additional 71 containers will be shipped in the coming weeks.
In Honduras, it isn’t just families living in extreme poverty who are suffering and hungry. The middle class is sliding into poverty and food insecurity as a result of the pandemic, said Linda Coello, Founder/President of CEPUDO, the charity’s partner in Honduras.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has lasted longer than we expected,” Coello said. “Hunger and need in our country are becoming more critical. Thanks to Food For The Poor and its donors, we have been able to help mitigate the situation.”
In Colombia, which has the world’s fifth largest number of confirmed cases of coronavirus, the respiratory illness caused by COVID-19, nearly half of the working population depends on informal jobs. Many have lost their livelihoods because of shutdowns brought on by the pandemic.
At the end of June, Food For The Poor and partner Minuto de Dios delivered 300 emergency food and hygiene packages to migrant families in Cartagena who were on the brink of starvation and falling into a state of malnutrition.
“I’m here with my 5-year old-daughter, my mother, my brother and his wife, who is handicapped,” said Carline, a Venezuelan nurse. “We feel very grateful for you and these food packages that you have provided.”
To provide a secure donation to help feed hungry families, please go to: www.foodforthepoor.org/worldfoodday.
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 primarily in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This interdenominational Christian ministry provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicine, educational materials, homes, support for orphaned and abandoned children, care for the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.
Michael Turnbell
Public Relations
954-427-2222 x 6054
[email protected]
