Brothers at the Missionaries of the Poor attend to one of the many children under their care. - CARLINGTON WILMOT/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
"Blessed is he that considers the poor ... he shall be blessed upon the earth." Ps 41:1-2.
IT REALLY is a simple name, but a more powerful title you will not find. Food For the Poor (FFP) is Jamaica's largest charitable organisation and the third largest in the United States. But it wasn't always that way.
Back in 1983 when the organisation was founded by Ferdinand Mahfood, all operations were run out of a tiny section of Wisynco's warehouse at White Marl, St. Catherine. Eight persons worked two or three days per week to keep things going. Today, with a massive complex at March Pen Road in Spanish Town, FFP is literally a lifesaver for thousands of Jamaicans. With items donated by persons primarily from the United States, FFP provides immeasurable help to those who simply cannot help themselves.
The organisation contributes to education by supplying the nation's schools with furniture, computers and stationery. More than 500 schools across the island benefit from the FFP school-feeding programme, which assists students with breakfast, lunch and books.
FFP contributes to health by providing ambulances, medicine, food and wheelchairs to hospitals, clinics and public homes. Earlier this year, the organisation donated wheelchairs to 160 persons, ranging from two to 84 years old. The value of these life-changing items was US$600,000 (J$3.6 million).
The organisation also contributes to housing by building an average of 250 homes for the destitute every month. FFP also runs a training programme in the island's prisons and fully funds the Salvation Army's street-feeding programme, which feeds more than 500 people daily on the streets of Kingston.
Bradley Finzi Smith, who is the executive director of FFP, said this year the non-profit organisation is on track to build more homes than ever before. He said that up to September, 1,922 were built. The goal is to build 2,500 houses by the end of the year.
The group also stockpiles food and emergency supplies, which will be distributed in the event of a natural disaster. Mr Finzi Smith said FFP is already preparing more than 700 containers of food for next year's hurricane season.
FFP is a Christian organisation, but works with all denominations. The goal of the group, said the executive director, is simply to act as a conduit to the poor, no matter where or who they are.
For their work to keep thousands of destitute Jamaicans alive, and their continued efforts to give the poor the push start they need to lift themselves out of poverty, Food for Poor will this year receive the prestigious Gleaner Honour Award for voluntary service.
- R.L.
