i-FUSE: For audiences in countries such as the UK who may not be very aware of FFP please explain the nature of the services you offer and the countries you operate in?

AA: FFP is the largest international relief and development organization in the US, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy. The organization serves the poorest of the poor in 17 countries throughout the Caribbean and Latin America. Founded in 1982, FFP is an interdenominational ministry that not only provides food for the starving, but also builds small houses for the destitute, digs water wells for parched villagers, provides medicine and medical equipment for the sick and elderly, supports orphanages and education for children, and much more.

i-FUSE: Which regions would you say required the most relief efforts?

AA: The countries in which we work suffer from extreme poverty. The people do not have jobs or are paid very little for their work and the children often suffer from malnutrition. While we work in 17 countries, our main focus lies in Jamaica, Haiti, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras and the Dominican Republic. In Jamaica, for example, housing, education and agriculture are major areas of focus, all with the goal of meeting the immediate needs of the poorest of the poor, and helping the destitute rise out of poverty.

i-FUSE: Haiti is one of the poorest nations in the western hemisphere with up to 80% unemployment? How significant is the work of FFP in Haiti?

AA: FFP has 222 projects underway in Haiti and another 464 that have been completed since 1996. The organization has worked in the country since 1983. Key projects focus on different aspects of development. Through 2008, 7,377 single-unit houses have been built for the poor in Haiti with another 265 under construction...two FFP daily feeding programs, trailer-loads of food (such as rice, beans, flour, powdered milk and oil) are distributed to a variety of organizations throughout the country. Schools, orphanages and churches depend on these items to carry out feeding programs and for distribution to local families.....35 water and sanitation projects under construction and approximately 50 community development projects that include water and sanitation.

FFP works with five orphanages as part of the Angels of Hope program. Through this program, 261 children receive shelter and an education. Most importantly, they receive the loving care that most have been lacking previously.... FFP provides schools with computers, furniture, textbooks, uniforms, educational materials and supplies. The organization also oversees building and repairing schools and funding the operating expenses of several institutions.

Self-sufficiency projects are vital to Haiti’s future.  Fishing villages and aquaculture farms are providing residents with new food sources, and whole communities with a gainful source of income. More than 20 of our projects in Haiti are geared toward production of other food products – chickens, goats, cows, fruit trees, and vegetable farms. 

i-FUSE: I’ve been told that FFP does not spend much on publicity as other charities do, essentially your resources go directly to those in need. If this is accurate how do you educate the public about your services and generate the necessary funds?

AA: Yes, you are correct. We do print ad campaigns in primarily Christian publications, and have an active radio campaign initiative to reach listeners. We do press releases, encourage media to travel with us, and present information about FFP at speaking engagements. Our direct mail department sends regular newsletters and appeals to update our donors on needs, and on how those needs are being met.

One of the most significant ways we reach people is through our Speakers Bureau. The Speakers Bureau is a teaching tool that gives American Christians the opportunity to respond directly to the needs of the poor. Retired clergy visit churches and speak directly to congregations. Our Speakers Bureau staff manages the program’s national outreach, organizes church and school mission projects, secures engagements with churches, arranges speaker schedules and organizes transportation. In 2008, more than 800,000 people were reached through the Speakers Bureau.

i-FUSE: How has the economic climate over the past 2 years affected the work of FFTP?

AA: We have a very loyal donor base, and we are grateful for that. We depend heavily on our fall quarter, and headed into that quarter last year, we were really praying. And our donors came through. This can be attributed to the loyalty of the donor base, our efficiency and the fact that we are good stewards. Some donors have cut back because they have been affected by the economy, some are fearful of what might happen more than because of actual losses. We are really praying once more that the fall quarter comes through for us.

i-FUSE: What kind of programs or strategies are you employing to combat these challenging times?

AA: We are sticking with our game plan of reaching donors in the ways I’ve previously mentioned. [W]e also are open to new ways of telling the story to donors, and in reaching out to them.  We need to recapture some donors who may have forgotten us, and we also are reaching out to our major donors in new ways. The poor global economy means even more dire consequences for the people we serve. It is important that people understand that each of them can help in some small way to make a big difference.

If you would like more information about FFP simply visit www.foodforthepoor.org. To make a donation simply click the secure link below.