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Great news – We’re feeding more children than ever!

Hello my name is Benjamin Evans, I’m the executive director for Feed The Hungry here in Australia, New Zealand and across the Asia Pacific region. I just wanted to take a minute or two and give an update on COVID-19 response from FTH.

Right now, we have over 20 large shipping containers steaming across the water and trucking across the land, to get food to 23 different countries around the world in our feeding program.

We do not anticipate any problems with the food being delivered into the hands of hungry children. All governments are treating logistics and ports are vital services and industries that must remain open – so that trade in general will continue – and food and medical supply in particular can get to those who need it most.

Today I am pleased to announce that we are feeding 311,363 children everyday through that same feeding program.

This is a huge increase from our last Christmas update of 280,513 children. Much of that growth has come from our newest project in Guatemala. The doors finally opened, and we were able to get food in there, starting a brand new feeding program. Unsure of your response we wrote about it recently in our February partner letters. To our amazement, because of your generosity, 26,000 children in Guatemala will now experience a full life.

More than a meal, we’re giving them a future!

Our Full Life feeding program relies on the strategy of providing a hot and nutritious meal in a school environment as part of our three fold approach – food, education, gospel. However, the COVID-19 mitigation strategies to reduce infection often require schools to close down. This is a challenge for our in-country distribution partners.

Children will no longer receive an education but crucially also not receiving their best, and often, only meal of the day. Our team on the ground is working hard on alternate plans, which I can’t speak about now for reasons of security of the food and safety of the team on the ground…but it is happening! Food will get to those who need it most.

We estimate that all 311,363 children in our FULL LIFE feeding program hubs are supported with enough food to last them through this immediate crisis. We believe that we can continue to feed them throughout the rest of 2020 – but to accomplish this we will be relying on your continued faithful and generous support.

Now more than ever, every cent counts. Just remember that every dollar you spare, will feed 5 children a hot and nutritious meal!

If you are struggling financially, if you need to reduce the amount you give regularly, or even stop it completely for a season – please do not hesitate to contact us and let us know. We can update your giving quickly and pray with you. We completely understand that the world has turned upside down for so many people, and the status quo may need to change for a time.

My children’s school principle recently encouraged the parents saying, “we will consolidate quickly, and then we will innovate”. I like that, I’ve taken that as a personal encouragement.

I believe that this too will pass.

Even in our office, we are adapting to the everchanging world. Weekly, daily, even hourly updates require us to be flexible in order to stay safe. We are working remotely, and practicing safe social distancing to protect our young and older family members. We’re okay, don’t worry about us. I wake every day confident that God will be there for us.

I’d like to end this update by reminding you of a passage that has been re-lit in my heart… it’s from 2 Corinthians 9:6-14, but in particular verse 10. I believe that God promises to give you bread to eat and seed to sow. In times like this, look to your heavenly father to provide you with seed to sow.

I am grateful for our faithful donors who know how important it is to feed the hungry, but maybe you also feel right now that finances are tight and my future uncertain. May I encourage you to take this prayer to God “Father I want to feed the hungry, but I have nothing right now. Please give me a seed – so I can sow it, and bread, so my family can eat it. Amen.”

Thank you and God bless.

Voice for the Hungry
Benjamin
FTH Director.

P.s. The next few weeks of isolation may actually be the best time to start memorising scripture. I would like to encourage you to keep the bible before your eyes, speak it out so your ears hear you saying it, and write it on your heart by memorising it. Set yourself the #Psalm91memorisationchallenge.

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