WELLS OF SALVATION Providing clean water for poor families to inspire a spiritual awakening

Transcription

1 2700 N. Military Trail, Suite 240 PO Box Boca Raton, Florida PROJECT 1184 WELLS OF SALVATION Providing clean water for poor families to inspire a spiritual awakening Rural Nicaragua With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. Isaiah 12: Cross Catholic Outreach. Cost-effectively written and designed in-house, and mailing facilitated by volunteers.

2 John Bland (right), with a Nicaraguan community leader. Clean water is a family s first and most basic physical need. Clean water promotes good health. Good health allows children to attend school and adults to work, providing for their families. That s why Cross Catholic Outreach is committed to developing clean water systems for the poor. This spring, our campaign is focused on bringing clean water to some of the poorest communities in Nicaragua. But these pages express much more than this need. They also tell an inspiring story of personal sacrifice. As you read, you will discover the work of an amazing Catholic lay missionary, John Bland, who has dedicated his life to providing Wells of Salvation for souls thirsting for the word of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our Catholic faith teaches service. John Bland s life story exemplifies this spiritual fruit. By joining with us in Cross Catholic s Wells of Salvation Campaign, you can also be the instrument God uses to serve the poor in a very tangible way. Help us meet this urgent need!

3 WELLS OF SALVATION EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PROJECT 1184 Project Description Bring water and sanitation facilities to 210 rural Nicaraguan families in 5 communities currently relying on contaminated rivers and wells for survival. Through the community s participation in the project, Amigos for Christ also hopes to spark a spiritual awakening among families who previously knew nothing but the daily struggle for survival. Our Partner Founded by Catholic missionary John Bland shortly after Hurricane Mitch devastated Nicaragua in 1998, Amigos for Christ has a long-standing partnership with Cross Catholic Outreach and has a proven plan to bring water and sanitation to Nicaragua s poorest communities. Location Five remote communities in western Nicaragua. Campaign Goal $440,000 will provide for the installation of clean water systems, pipelines and modern bathroom facilities for 210 families, spread out among 5 communities. Project Summary THE NEED There is no access to safe water and the poor rely on filthy, contaminated water sources that cause stomach ailments, diarrhea, fevers, skin rashes and parasitic infections. During the rainy season, the creeks and streams used by animals often become contaminated. During the dry season, the poor turn to shallow ground wells infested with worms, bacteria and other contaminants. How You Can Help We need you to assist Amigos for Christ in the construction of water and sanitation systems which will directly benefit 1,260 villagers. MATERIAL IMPACT Amigos for Christ will construct solar-powered water systems, including wells, storage tanks and deep-water pumps. Pipelines will deliver clean water directly to each beneficiary household. A modern toilet, shower and septic tank will be installed in each beneficiary home. Each beneficiary household must participate in the construction effort and pay a small monthly maintenance fee lower than what many had paid before to buy water from outside sources. SPIRITUAL IMPACT As they bring water, Catholic missionary John Bland and his Amigos for Christ staff seek opportunities to build relationships and share the wonders of our Lord Jesus Christ, providing Wells of Salvation to those who previously could only concentrate on survival. i

4 Never again will they hunger, never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. Revelation 7:16 ii

5 WELLS OF SALVATION TABLE OF CONTENTS PROJECT 1184 INTRODUCTION MY INSPIRING ENCOUNTER WITH JOHN BLAND... iv SECTION I THE NEED The Quest for Water The Cycle of Sickness The Cost of Water SECTION II THE MINISTRY & THE SOLUTION John Bland: Accepting God s Call A Perfect Partnership A 7-Year Commitment The Miracle on the Mountain SECTION III HOW YOU CAN HELP Wells of Salvation Map of the Project Budget Sponsorship Opportunities iii

6 WELLS OF SALVATION INTRODUCTION PROJECT 1184 My Inspiring Encounter with John Bland by Chris McIntyre, Staff Writer (pictured) We ll never use an automatic trencher to do this work, says John Bland, Executive Director of Amigos for Christ. It s all picks and shovels. The relationships that are formed when we are laying pipe are amazing. You can see a community come alive. That s the spirit of Christ! Fresh off the truck, on my first international project for Cross Catholic Outreach, I watch the amazing bonding process unfold before my eyes. We are in the village of El Moto. It is a work day, and our Nicaraguan mission partner, Amigos for Christ, has taken its entire staff out into the field. But they aren t alone. Villagers have come from miles around to help out not only from El Moto but from neighboring towns Las Brisas and Mina de Agua. This has become more than a work day. It is a celebration. As I walk up the rocky path, I pass yard after yard of freshly laid pipe. The farther I walk and the closer I get to another work party, I hear the steady rhythm of their pickaxes and shovels, mixed with the unmistakable sounds of laughter and merriment, a delightful mixture of English and Spanish. Necesitas ayuda? Need some help, bro? Los hombres guapos nunca necesitan ayuda! Good looking guys never need help! All this laughter from digging ditches. Digging ditches! That s when it hits me why John Bland will never use any sort of automated equipment. Yes, he is serious about providing wells to bring the poor safe water and sanitation. But he sees his ultimate mission as so much more. The hard work that is done provides Wells of Salvation. I see the proof of this spiritual awakening all around me. I see it in an old man who approaches an exhausted teenager, takes up his shovel and finishes the job. I see it in a petite 80-pound woman who can barely lift a pickaxe, yet she finds the strength to dig deep into the earth for the sake of her community. I find it in two sisters who have walked several miles from a nearby village to volunteer for a work effort even though the outcome of this particular project will not directly benefit them. I speak with the two sisters, Eugenia and Cristina, whose village received water just six months ago, thanks to a very successful outreach effort by Cross Catholic working through Amigos for Christ. Having water has changed my life, Eugenia says. Now my children can bathe and drink safe water. I praise God! The two sisters move forward, shovels in hand. Nobody has asked them to volunteer. They ve just shown up. And now they thank Jesus. That s the beauty of John Bland s mission. By helping people help themselves, he has expanded their vision. Before, these people were only concerned with eking out a day-to-day existence. Now their towns are flowing with clean, abundant water, and they are open to the many blessings the Lord can provide including service for others. Yes, I see it now. This is no ordinary humanitarian project, just as John Bland is no ordinary Catholic layman. He has become a divine instrument in the hand of God. And these are Wells of Salvation. As I walk back to the truck, preparing for a full day of site visits, I reflect on what I have just witnessed. I know that the water that will flow into each of the homes in El Moto will do more than save lives and nourish bodies. It will nourish the souls of these precious people. iv

7 WELLS OF SALVATION PROJECT 1184 SECTION I THE NEED The Quest for Water The Cycle of Sickness The Cost of Water Water will flow from their buckets; their seed will have abundant water. Numbers 24:7 1

8 WELLS OF SALVATION THE NEED PROJECT 1184 Five times a day, Angela carries this 40-pound bucket to her water source. The Quest for Water With a hefty 40-pound bucket of murky water perched on top of her head, Angela Bilchez Aguilar slowly makes her way up the steep, rocky path. It is a course she follows five times a day. The path is treacherous. But this is the trail Angela must take if she wants water. Like most poor families who live in the remote village of Nance Dulce, Angela s household uses the better part of a day to meet their water needs. She personally walks a total of 3½ miles every day from her small one-room shack to the only water source she has ever known a community well that has been built down by the river. Angela uses 25 gallons of water a day to provide for her entire family of eight. Compare this to the average American who uses 25 gallons on just one load of laundry. But Angela manages even though her trips to the well are becoming harder and harder to accomplish. I m always sick, she says. I have a constant stomach ache. Angela s symptoms diarrhea, nausea, bloating and abdominal cramps seem to come in waves. They are classic symptoms of giardia, a microscopic parasite that s found in poor sanitation and unsafe water. Despite the fact that her water source is obviously contaminated, Angela says she is lucky. At least her well doesn t dry up after the rainy season ends. That isn t the case for many of her neighbors in Nicaragua. For most of them, the dry season means a constant search for alternative sources of water. That requires even longer walks. Finding other wells, rivers or streams can eventually become impossible, leaving the poor to dig holes in the earth in their search for ground water. In almost every case, however, the water the poor can access is contaminated with parasites and invisible pathogens. This is especially hard on the children. When they get sick, they can t go to school. When they can t go school, they are destined for a life of poverty. But Angela will do what she can to break this cycle. My children are often sick with diarrhea, she says. She knows that a new water system in Nance Dulce will help them not to miss so much school. But until that happens, she must perch the bucket on her head and fetch the water. Again and again and again. Typical of the shallow ground wells found in rural Nicaragua, Angela s well draws contaminated water from the nearby river. 2

9 WELLS OF SALVATION THE NEED PROJECT 1184 Here we see Maria s source of drinking water - a dammed up area along the creek bed. The water looks clear, but it is teaming with bacteria. The Cycle of Sickness Está enfermo? Are you sick? Are you and your family doing okay? Sí, bien, gracias. Yes, thank you, we are doing fine. John Bland, Catholic missionary and leader of Amigos for Christ, is doing what he does best ministering to the poor; checking on people; establishing trust. Today, John is in the village of Matilde, getting to know Domingo Moreno, his wife Maria and their four children. When asked if the water makes them sick, Domingo again assures John that everything is okay. John shakes his head and explains that this response is quite understandable. This is all they ve known their whole lives, he says. Diarrhea and stomach aches are the norm. What is sick to us has become OK to them. But his kids look at their bellies. They obviously have worms. That speaks volumes. Sure enough, the poor distended bellies of the little children are enough to make your heart sink. And the toddler is clearly suffering from pink eye. Look around, John Bland says. No latrine. That means the woods serve as their outhouse. All that waste goes right into there. He points to a thin creek which runs by the house. The source of the children s ailments becomes clear. This creek is where Domingo and his family get their drinking water during the rainy season. It is also the place they bathe and wash their clothes. It is where local animals go to drink and defecate. It is where pesticides from nearby farms eventually settle. And when the dry season comes and this creek is dry, the family travels to an even filthier source of water. They walk about a mile twice a day for that supply. John asks Domingo if he would be willing to pitch in and work if safe, running water could be brought to the community. Domingo enthusiastically answered yes! Hard work, I am used to, Domingo says. If it brings us water, I will work. 3

10 WELLS OF SALVATION THE NEED PROJECT 1184 On this day, Nora kept her son home from school because he wasn t feeling well a common occurrence when the family is consuming tainted water. The Cost of Water Nora del Carmen Santiago and her children are one of 30 families living in the village of Dulce Nombre de Jesus, a place so remote that the nearest water source is literally miles away. It is a common sight to see Nora s children traveling the dirt road on horseback with 5-gallon buckets strapped to their animals. In fact, when the kids get home from school, Nora may have been lucky enough to have procured food, but the kids generally won t get to eat before they take care of their chore another trip to get water. Nora is very concerned about the water situation. Her kids already have to travel great distances to fetch water for the family. Even then, it may not be available. Just last month, Nora had to pay for her water which literally took food out of the mouths of her children. What she bought, of course, was contaminated well water. Nora yearns for a day when she can get five times that amount of water at half the cost and it will be clean, free-flowing water, free of pathogens. When that day comes, Nora will no longer worry about her children being met on the road by gang members and criminals. She will no longer worry about buying water from contaminated wells. Because this is a woman of deep faith and resolution. She goes to church three times a week, asking God for strength. Clearly, God has given her this strength. She has endured countless hardships, including desperate poverty, health issues and challenges to her safety. And, God has blessed her recently with a new baby, which she bore at home with no assistance whatsoever. My baby, she says, carries the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. She named the child Francisco de Jesus. She is determined that this child will grow up with a different fate than her own. He will not have to spend hours each day fetching water, she prays. 4

11 WELLS OF SALVATION PROJECT 1184 SECTION II THE MINISTRY & THE SOLUTION John Bland: Accepting God s Call A Perfect Partnership A 7-Year Commitment The Miracle on the Mountain Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58 5

12 WELLS OF SALVATION THE MINISTRY & THE SOLUTION PROJECT 1184 John Bland: Accepting God s Call John Bland served in the Peace Corps in Paraguay and thought he had seen it all. But when Hurricane Mitch hit Nicaragua in 1998, the experience haunted him. I had been to Nicaragua before when I took our youth group from Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Atlanta, said John. That was my first introduction to severe poverty. But when Mitch hit and a group of us went back to help out, it was utter devastation. He saw little children picking through garbage just to find scraps of food to eat. He witnessed whole families sleeping in dirty cardboard boxes. It was a moment that forever changed John Bland s course in life. I was looking at all this devastation, and I was listening to Hallelujah by the Newsboys on my Walkman. I kept playing it over and over. And I heard God say, I want you to do more. Shortly after, I met with the three other youth leaders and discovered they had the same vision. A year after that, a friend donated enough money so that I could quit my job and devote myself full time to the ministry. John Bland has been a missionary and a source of God s mercy in Nicaragua ever since. Immersing himself in the lives of the poor, he encourages everyone he meets to dream big and place God in the driver s seat, trusting him each hour, day, week and year. You never know when God will open a door, he said. For us in everything we do The devastation of Hurricane Mitch changed John Bland s life forever. A young John Bland with Fr. Jimmy of Prince of Peace Catholic Church. we want to model Jesus ministry. He sets the tone for what serving others looks like. A Fulfillment of His Mission Recently, John informed Cross Catholic Outreach about his intention to make Nicaragua his full-time home. John, his wife and children had been dividing their time between Georgia and Nicaragua for the past 16 years, so this move finalizes John s sacrificial journey of service to our Lord. He believes, as we do, that Jesus Christ is calling him to become his emissary to the Nicaraguan people, spreading both hope and the spiritual blessings of the Gospel. 6

13 WELLS OF SALVATION THE MINISTRY & THE SOLUTION PROJECT 1184 Cross Catholic Outreach has partnered successfully with Amigos for Christ on numerous occasions, and there is one key reason the partnership has been so fruitful over the years: in each project, God s Gospel of love and hope are the focus. This approach has brought a lasting impact to the impoverished families who exist on the margins of society. Lives are not only benefited they are changed dramatically. In fact, whole communities are transformed. When Cross Catholic partnered with Amigos on a major housing project for families who had lived in the Chinandega city garbage dump, it did more than build homes it built a community. When Cross Catholic donors helped fund a recent water project, it did more than provide clean water and sanitation for rural families. The experience inspired a spiritual awakening throughout the entire community. Today, Cross Catholic and Amigos for Christ are once again working together to provide clean water systems this time for 210 families who A Perfect Partnership Faith without works is nothing. We want to immerse ourselves in the lives of the poor and show them that we will suffer with them, and by that demonstrate to them that our hearts are moved by the Lord to do this. This is our witness to them. John Bland lack a safe, accessible water supply. In addition, we are looking to install sanitary showers and toilets that are a more hygienic alternative to taking baths in the river or using crude latrines that attract flies, diseases and pathogens. Each family will participate in the project by helping to dig trenches and lay pipe. This will not only give the community a sense of pride and ownership, it will help open the doors for missionaries to preach good news to the poor (Luke 4:18) the hope of new life in Christ. 7

14 WELLS OF SALVATION THE MINISTRY & THE SOLUTION PROJECT 1184 A 7-Year Commitment The reason John Bland is so successful with his water projects is because Amigos for Christ doesn t just drill a well, open a spigot and leave. The team invests seven full years in the communities they serve. It is all part of John Bland s vision to do more than provide material aid; to change lives. Once the well is dug, the water must go directly to each household, he says. Otherwise you don t get the kind of change you are looking for. Currently, people are spending the better part of their day hauling water, and they can only carry around 10 gallons. When we can pipe the water directly to each home, we re providing 10 times that amount per day that s when you start to see real change. That s when the education element comes in. People learn about sanitation and hygiene, and children miss less school. John says the 7-year commitment begins with water and sanitation. After a water John and his wife Sabrina minister i to poor villagers who need assistance like Nora del Carmen Santiago and her son. and sanitation system is successfully installed, Amigos continues to help by instructing families on basic hygiene and health care. From there, they assist with education and nutrition, administering scholarships and launching feeding programs. The last step is economic and community development, providing microloans to help families start small businesses. According to Luis Equivel, Amigos Director of Projects, having the people in the community actively participate in the work is an important motivating factor. Nothing is a handout, nothing is free, he says. Families contribute around 10% of the cost and 100% of the labor. Luis also explains that on big projects, if the 10% contribution is too much of a burden, Amigos will cap it at around 3,500 cordobas (or $140 US) to make sure it is attainable. These people are very poor and the financial burden is great, he says, but the dignity they gain is so much more important. They sell pigs, chickens, wood or wash people s clothes whatever they need to do to raise the money. It breaks the we can t mentality. For everyone at Amigos for Christ, continuing the relationship with the community is more than a practical consideration. It is God s will. There s a definitive command in the Bible to help your brother, says John Bland. Jesus said it on numerous occasions, so the backbone of everything we do is Christ-centered. This is why as the relationships with the communities grow, Amigos mission teams find opportunities to share the Gospel in a meaningful way working with, praying with and bringing Wells of Salvation to those in need. 8

15 WELLS OF SALVATION THE MINISTRY & THE SOLUTION PROJECT 1184 How the Water & Sanitation System Works First, Amigos water experts find the best underground water source and burrow deep into the ground. Then, they determine the best energy source to pump the water out of the well. Invariably, solar panels have been found to be the most cost-effective, taking advantage of Nicaragua s bountiful sunlight. A gravity-fed system of pipes then carries the water into a community holding tank. From there, the water flows directly into the homes of the families. Each family is provided with a spigot, plus their own shower and toilet. The new sanitary toilets operate much like our modern toilets, except that a bucket of water is poured into the bowl to trigger the flush mechanism, sending the contents into septic tanks. To get the work done, teams of villagers and Amigos volunteers and staff work side by side, digging ditches and laying pipe. It is a true community effort. And every villager who receives water contributes in some way. Village committees are tasked with collecting small monthly maintenance fees of around $5 a fraction of the cost of purchasing water by the barrel. The Benefits of the New System The solar-powered well not only reduces costs providing 100 gallons per day of clean water to every home in a community for less than $5 per month it literally changes the lives of the villagers forever. Having water piped directly into each home eliminates the need to fetch water. Clean water reduces bacteria-borne illnesses. Plus modern showers and toilets eliminate skin diseases and parasites. 9

16 WELLS OF SALVATION THE MINISTRY & THE SOLUTION PROJECT 1184 The Miracle on the Mountain The Bible is full of stories in which God s guidance comes, not by word or vision, but through circumstances. We often don t realize the guiding hand of the Holy Spirit until we look back in retrospect. Then, we see how God wove events together to accomplish his will. One such God moment occurred the day after John Bland was told his plans for a water project would be a part of a Cross Catholic Outreach appeal to supporters. John was thrilled to hear that Amigos for Christ and Cross Catholic would be working together again but he had yet to share the good news with the communities that would benefit from the project. It was a Saturday, and Jeremy Sutton John s best friend and right-hand man suggested they take their mountain bikes and head for the hills. Let s go check out Dulce Nombre de Jesus, said Jeremy. This village was one of the most remote communities on the water project list located high up in the mountains. As they set out on their bikes, the terrain was uneven and the going difficult. John knew one of the community organizers, Sebastian Caceras, lived somewhere in the general area, but he had no idea exactly where his house was. He thought it would be a good idea to try and locate Sebastian. It was a rough ride up the mountain. Then it started raining, and the longer they pedaled the more disoriented they became. Eventually, they became hopelessly lost, and weren t even sure if they were on the road to Dulce Nombre. Coming upon a remote village hut, they decided to ask directions to Sebastian s house. The villager not only knew Sebastian, he Sebastian Caceras (right) is a key figure in helping John Bland (left) bring free-flowing water to a community. pointed to the house next door and said, Sebastian is over there now! What John and Jeremy didn t know was that Dulce Nombre residents were, at that very moment, holding a community meeting to discuss their desperate water situation. The villagers knew that Sebastian had connections with Amigos for Christ, and they were asking for his help in contacting John. You can image their shock when, a few minutes later, John Bland walked in on the meeting. Can you help? they asked, their voices charged with excitement. Indeed we can, replied John Bland. The villagers shouted out in praise. It s a sign from God! they said. And then, as if the Lord was orchestrating a magnificent, spiritual symphony, the sound of thunder once again burst forth and the heavens erupted in a blessed rain. It was clear to us all God was in this plan! 10

17 WELLS OF SALVATION PROJECT 1184 SECTION III HOW YOU CAN HELP Wells of Salvation Map of the Project Budget Sponsorship Opportunities Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6 11

18 WELLS OF SALVATION HOW YOU CAN HELP PROJECT 1184 Forever change the lives of the poor By partnering with Cross Catholic Outreach, you have the opportunity to transform the lives of 1,260 people who currently rely on contaminated rivers and wells for survival. You can spare mothers from long walks to rivers or ground wells to fetch a few gallons of water, increase the harvests of subsistence farmers whose fields turn to dust during the dry season and protect children from diarrhea and parasites that infest their bellies. Support 5 villages in Western Nicaragua The people we are asking you to support are in villages so remote that they can only be reached by long, winding dirt roads. Three of the villages Matilde, Nance Dulce and Las Palmitas are located far from the main road near the border of Honduras. The other two villages Las Grecias and Dulce Nombre de Jesus are located at the foot of the San Cristóbal volcano. These rural villagers have never known the conveniences that we take for granted. Let your support provide Wells of Salvation for these special people now and for years to come! Wells of Salvation Our Campaign Goal is $440,000 The entire budget will cover the cost of providing water and sanitation to 5 rural Nicaraguan villages. The solar powered water systems will bring clean water to the homes of 210 poor families, directly benefiting 1,260 villagers. Each family will invest sweat equity into the project by helping to dig trenches and lay pipe. Your gift will provide a vital resource that will benefit the villages for generations to come. 12

19 WELLS OF SALVATION HOW YOU CAN HELP PROJECT 1184 Map of the Project NICARAGUA The 5 villages chosen to receive water systems, pipelines & sanitation 1. Matilde 2. Nance Dulce 3. Las Palmitas 4. Dulce Nombre de Jesus 5. La Grecia DETAIL OF AREA

20 WELLS OF SALVATION HOW YOU CAN HELP PROJECT 1184 Budget Cost to complete solar-powered water systems, pipelines and sanitation (Includes funds being raised by the communities) COMMUNITIES FAMILIES VILLAGERS WATER SOURCES WATER DISTRIBUTION SANITATION Wells, Pumps, Tanks, Pipelines, Toilets, Showers, Solar Power House Connections Septic Tanks Matilde $23,000 $30,000 $47,000 Nance Dulce $11,500 $15,000 $30,000 Las Palmitas $11,500 $10,000 $18,000 Dulce Nombre de Jesus $35,400 $15,000 $30,000 La Grecia $43,000 $25,000 $85,000 Total 210 1,260 $124,400 $95,000 $210,000 Total Costs Water and Sanitation Costs $429,400 Less Funds Being Raised by the Communities - $29,400 Total $400,000 Cross Catholic Project Management $40,000 Grand Total $440,000 Funding Needed: $440,000 With your help, we can reach this campaign goal! 14

21 WELLS OF SALVATION HOW YOU CAN HELP PROJECT 1184 Sponsorship Opportunities Even though as American Catholics we may never meet the families benefiting from this project, the Lord implores us to help. In Matthew 25:40, Jesus says that whatever you do for the least of these, you do for the Lord. By giving to Cross Catholic Outreach, you are doing much more than just providing clean water for a struggling family. You are putting Christ-like love for the poor into action. And it will leave a lasting legacy that will literally change lives. You may choose one of the sponsorship levels listed below or indicate another amount that God places on your heart. Total Amount Needed: $440,000 $20,000 Wells of Salvation Sponsor $15,000 Living Water Sponsor $10,000 Water of Life Sponsor $5,000 Streams of Gladness Sponsor $2,500 Fountain of Life Sponsor $1,200 Abundant Water Sponsor For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 Our Promise to You! Proceeds from this campaign will be used to cover any expenditures for this project. In the event that more funds are raised than needed to fully fund the project, the excess funds, if any, will be used to meet the most urgent needs of the ministry. 15 [cmc1401]

22 We consider every donation as a gift from God, and ourselves as honored stewards of those gifts. The following organizations can attest to Cross Catholic Outreach s faithful stewardship of God s precious resources: 2700 N. Military Trail Suite 240 PO Box Boca Raton, FL Victor Biggs, International Development Director: ext Delivering Food, Shelter and Hope to the Poorest of the Poor