Food for the Hungry facts for kids
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| Founded | 1971 |
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| Founder | Larry Ward |
| Type | International relief and development organization |
| Purpose | Together we follow God's call responding to human suffering and graduating communities from extreme poverty. |
| Location |
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Area served
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26 countries |
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CEO
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Mark Viso |
Food for the Hungry (also called FH) is a Christian group that helps people around the world. They work to relieve suffering and help communities grow. It was started in 1971 by a person named Larry Ward.
Their main goal is to help communities escape extreme poverty in about 10 to 15 years. They also help when disasters happen, like with Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and Syrian refugees in Lebanon. The name "Food for the Hungry" comes from a Bible verse, Book of Psalms 146:7, which says: "He gives food to the hungry." Since 1980, Food for the Hungry has been a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. This means they are careful and honest with their money.
Contents
How Food for the Hungry Started
Larry Ward started Food for the Hungry in 1971 in Southern California. He later moved the main offices to Arizona in 1974. In the early years, FH helped many people in need.
They helped refugees in Bangladesh after a war. They also helped people affected by the 1972 Nicaragua earthquake. FH even rescued Vietnamese "boat people" from the South China Sea. They also worked to help hungry people in Haiti and West Africa.
In 1978, FH began its child sponsorship program. This program lets people help a specific child by providing support. In 1979, they started Hunger Corps. This part of FH sends people to different places to help.
Larry Ward retired in 1984. After him, leaders like Ted Yamamori and later Randall Hoag and Benjamin K. Homan took charge. Since 2020, Mark Viso has been the CEO and President.
How FH Works Around the World
Food for the Hungry is a Christian organization. Their beliefs guide all the work they do. They are not connected to any one church group. FH works in many countries across Asia, Africa, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.
Helping People in Bangladesh
FH started working in Bangladesh in 1972. They first gave out rice to people who were poor. Now, they help communities grow in many ways. This includes helping people earn money, get health care, and go to school. They also help communities prepare for disasters.
Since 2017, over 900,000 Rohingya people have fled violence in Myanmar to Bangladesh. FH has worked with other groups to give them health care. They focus on helping mothers and children.
Helping People in Bolivia
In 1978, FH began helping in Bolivia. They gave aid to people in the high plains of the Andes Mountains. This was to help with the effects of El Niño, a weather event. Now, FH helps communities with jobs, health, and education.
Bolivia can have many natural disasters. So, FH also does a lot of emergency relief work there. FH Bolivia is currently working on many projects. These projects help improve access to water and irrigation systems for farming.
Helping People in Cambodia
FH started helping in Cambodia in 1990. They gave aid to people in refugee camps during a civil war. In 1992, they began working with poor communities to improve living conditions.
Since 2016, FH Cambodia has helped train preschool teachers. They work with education groups to give teachers special courses. This helps teachers get certified and become better at teaching young children.
Helping People in Guatemala
FH started in Guatemala in 1976 after a big earthquake. They gave out food, clothes, and shelter materials. In 1981, they officially opened an office to help children. They focused on helping orphans and widows affected by Guatemala's civil war.
Today, FH Guatemala works on long-term community development. They especially focus on the health and nutrition of children and babies. In 2018, they helped over 4,400 children reduce chronic malnutrition. Volunteer mothers teach new mothers about breastfeeding and caring for their babies.
Helping People in Kenya
In 1976, FH began working in Kenya during a bad drought. They gave emergency supplies to people. Now, FH does long-term development work. This includes helping with jobs, clean water, health, and child development. They also help with HIV/AIDS prevention and care.
FH Kenya is working on a project to get more water for people and animals. This project helps about 70,000 people. It also helps to make sure the land stays healthy. This way, there will be enough water for everyone for a long time.
Helping People in Rwanda
In 1994, FH responded to the terrible crisis caused by the genocide. They helped find children and reunite them with their families. They also gave out food and helped people start farming again.
Since 2001, FH has focused on long-term development. This includes helping with jobs, food, and education. In 2017, FH Rwanda helped over 18,000 students with school supplies. They also built or improved classrooms, desks, and water tanks. They train parents and teachers to help children learn better.
How Food for the Hungry Gets Money
Food for the Hungry is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA). This means they follow rules for being honest with their money.
In 2013, about 35% of their money came from the U.S. government. About 62% came from individuals, and 3% from churches, businesses, and foundations. Most of this money (83%) was used for their programs.
FH has a 3 out of 4-star rating on Charity Navigator. This group rates charities. FH scored 100 out of 100 for being open and honest. However, they scored a bit lower in the financial part. This is because they spend a bit more on fundraising and administration compared to some other charities.
See also
- Canadian Food for the Hungry
- Feed the Children
- Food for the Poor, Inc.
- Heart to Heart International
