Blessing Families with Food and Hope

WORLDWIDE – Take a moment to digest this: Nearly 200 million children under the age of 5 are underweight or stunted because of nutritional deficiencies. What’s even worse is that nearly half of deaths in this age group are linked to lack of nutrition—a cause that is totally preventable. These are staggering statistics, but your compassion is helping turn these numbers into real stories of food and hope for children across the world.

The little preschoolers in Paucarcolla, Peru, were once among the children included in these heart-wrenching statistics. Each one has a face, a family, and a story. And now, thanks to you, they have the opportunity for a better future.

Many of these precious children suffered with chronic anemia from a lack of nutritious food. But your love is giving them a chance to thrive. For the past two years, they have been a part of our feeding program to improve nutrition among preschool students across Peru. Your compassion is providing healthy meals, daily vitamins, and nutritional workshops so that their parents can help these kids live happier, healthier lives filled with food and hope.

Virginia: Feeding Hurting Families in the U.S.

Mary is a retired secretary who lives on a fixed income in Portsmouth, Virginia. “When I first retired, things were going along well,” she told us. Then the prices of necessities like groceries and gas began to rise. Mary found it difficult to make ends meet. That’s when you stepped in.

When Mary needs food, your care meets her at her local food pantry at Good News Baptist Church. “There are times when I do run out of things and this just helps me a lot,” she said. “It will help me cut down the cost of food.” And all the nutritious choices at the pantry are helping her stay healthy.

When we met her, Mary expressed how grateful she is for your kindness when times get rough. “Things have been a little more expensive, but God’s been taking care of me,” she said. And every time she visits the pantry, she feels the warmth of your love. “I feel like we are just a family, a big family.” And your gifts keep going, spreading food and hope to neighbors in need.

Nigeria: Overcoming Poverty with Baking

Life in the poverty-ridden community of Fali, Nigeria, was marked by hardship. Work was infrequent and unstable. Most families earned less than $5 a week and couldn’t afford basic necessities like food. Residents were dependent on help from other countries. But today, they have something even better—the opportunity to depend on themselves.

Our generous partners provided training in baking so that women like Deborah in Fali could start their own businesses—by taking simple ingredients they had on hand to bake pastries and other income-generating products. With the additional earnings, they began offering beautifully crafted cakes and snacks. Others learned how to make soap, disinfectant, and petroleum jelly and are now supplying local vendors with their products.

For the first time, Deborah felt empowered. “The experience wasn’t just about baking alone—it was about understanding financial discipline, a tool that has shaped not just my business but my entire future.”

These women are no longer dependent on outsiders for their livelihood. They can put food on the table and support their families, building a brighter future for the next generation.