The beginning of the year has always been a time to think about what’s ahead. It’s a great time to take inventory of where you’ve been and consider where you hope to go. It’s also a time to anticipate the challenges and opportunities you’re going to face in the year to come.

One of the greatest challenges we are going to face this year is going to be simply obtaining food. In the last six months the Haitian government has been changing food regulations and this may prove to have a significant impact on us.

Simply put, the government wants all food to come into the country either by airplane or boat so it can be taxed. While that doesn’t seem like a big deal, we are located on the Dominican Republic border and receive a large percentage of our food from them. In October, the Haitian government issued an executive order to ban 23 types of goods from crossing the border including fruit, vegetables, and other food that is essential to feeding our children.

Will you prayerfully consider helping us feed and care for children in Haiti?

This recent food ban has put many Haitian families out of business, and without that income they are finding it hard to feed their families. Hundreds have lost their jobs in the market, food is hard to find, and all of this has led to an increase in hunger and malnutrition. Last year we spent just shy of $175,000 on our feeding program, and we are anticipating a great increase in expenses in 2016.

In September of 2015 we added a Malnutrition Program to combat the rise in childhood malnutrition and have treated 58 children in our new in-patient program so far. With God’s blessing and your help, our Malnutrition Center and feeding program will continue to thrive so that children can live!

Here are some ways that you can help:

– Feeding program for one month: $14,500 (approx. 16,000 meals)

– Fifty meals (approx.): $45.50
– Twenty-five meals (approx.): $22.75
– Ten meals (approx.): $9.10
– Medika Mamba, a peanut-butter based nutrition, for the Malnutrition Center for one month: $1,035, or $69 per box
– Malnutrition Center nurse’s salary for one month (5 nurses): $300 each Kitchen worker’s salary for one month (5 cooks): $300 each

Thank you for your prayers and support. We value your partnership with us. Together we are changing lives one by one.