THE US-based charity, Food For The Poor (FFTP) is celebrating 26 years of dedicated benevolent service to thousands of families across the beautiful land of Guyana.
To mark the occasion, the organisation has issued the following statement, in an effort to document its growth here over the years:
“Food For The Poor commenced operations on June 3, 1991 in Kingston, Georgetown, before moving to 248 Forshaw and Oronoque Streets, Queenstown.

“Because of the great need of essential services for the population, it quickly expanded and is presently located at 1999-2002 Blue Mountain Road, Festival City, North Ruimveldt.
“Headed by a Board of Directors chaired by Mr. Paul Chan-a-Sue, the daily operations are managed by Mr. Kent Vincent, Chief Executive Officer (CEO)) . It was previously managed by former Executive Director, Mr. Leon Davis, who retired in 2012 after 21 years of outstanding service to the organisation.
“Through its committed donors, the charity has, since its inception, built more than 3 400 housing units, over 500 of which were constructed as part of 12 villages. Those villages are located in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and Five (Mahaica-Berbice).
“In 2016, the organisation distributed 159 containers of goods, inclusive of food, medical equipment and supplies, educational supplies and sporting equipment.
“FFTP’s ‘Angels of Hope’ programme caters for 244 children from 12 orphanages. A monthly supply of food, clothing, toiletries and school supplies are donated to the Homes. The children are sponsored by donors from the United States of America. Children must be under 18 years old to be admitted to the programme.

SCHOOL FEEDING
“Additionally, 318 children from four schools, namely Mashabo, Enterprise, Sophia and Watooka Primary, benefit daily from FFTP’s School Feeding Programme, whereby they enjoy hot nutritious meals, with beverages and fruits. The parents of those children are also given monthly hampers.
“President and CEO of Food for the Poor Incorporated of the United States of America, Robin Mahfood, in his address to the large gathering in attendance at FFTP ( Guyana)’s silver jubilee dinner at the Pegasus Hotel last June said: ‘We work in schools and orphanages. Education is one of the easiest ways out of poverty. Without a good education you’re asking for trouble.
“The entity is also engaged in water, self-sustainable agricultural and animal husbandry projects, to name a few.

FUNDING
Most of the organisation’s funding is derived from donations and fundraising activities such as cake sales, take-away lunches, corn houses and raffles. One of the main fundraising activities is the Annual Schools Raffle.

“FFTP would like to thank the donors, both local and overseas, for their faithful support over the years, and looks forward for more support in the future.
Food for the Poor Inc., Florida USA, one of the largest international relief and development organisations in the world, does much more than feed millions of the hungry poor primarily in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America.
“This inter-denominational Christian ministry provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance. “Over the last 10 years, fundraising and other administrative costs averaged less than five per cent of expenses; more than 95 per cent of all donations went directly to programmes that help the poor.”