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Nutrition is Key for People Battling Ebola, You Can Help!

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ebola liberia food hunger reliefThe Ebola outbreak is in the news a lot lately. Efforts are underway to help those who have been affected or are trying desperately to keep the virus at bay. While there is a number of things health care and government officials are trying to put in place, one thing is certain. Nutrition plays a key role in helping those battling Ebola, and we need to work together to get healthy food to those in need.

Food For Kidz, along with Kids Fighting Hunger and Harvest Pak have cumulatively sent 356,000 meals to Liberia from Stewart, MN…

According to an article in The Economist.com, “Unintended Consequences” on September 6, 2014, “The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation says the epidemic is endangering harvests and pushing up food prices. The creation of quarantine zones has created labour shortages, hampered cash-crop production and led to panic buying.” Hunger and proper nutrition is already playing a leading role in the crisis spreading across several countries.

Steve Holt wrote in TakePart.com an article entitled “There’s No Cure for Ebola, but This Commonsense Fix Could Prevent the Next Outbreak” discussing the critical need for better nutrition in these Ebola outbreak areas. He quoted Bruce Ribner, a medical director of the infectious diseases unit at Emory University Hospital, “If you have somebody who is well nourished and you have somebody who is poorly nourished, and they suffer the same illness, infectious or otherwise, the person who has better nutrition has a better survival outlook.” Providing nourishment to people is one area where we can all work together to help!

What’s Been Done to Help in Liberia

Food For Kidz, along with Kids Fighting Hunger and Harvest Pak have cumulatively sent 356,000 meals to Liberia from the Stewart, MN warehouse in recent days. Partner organizations MatterMore and Outreach are coordinating with health organizations on the ground in Liberia to help with food distribution.

How You Can Help Now!

For us to be able to respond when the time comes, we need to have food packaged and ready to ship! We need those interested in helping to get started with organizing a packing event! People who are willing to assist by scheduling and coordinating a packing event as a response to the needs in Liberia should call us. We also have monthly packing events in Stewart; just show up and help!

Food and Water to Afghanistan Landslide Survivors

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Afghanistan Landslide flooding relief 5 10 14
In cooperation with the Bayat Foundation, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation & Development (MRRD) and coordinated by Food for Kidz partners, Host Nation PerspectivesSWA and AZ Corp., together we are able to transport, deliver and distribute 45,000 meals and 28,000 bottles of water to the victims of the flooding and landslide survivors in northern Afghanistan. The Food for Kidz supply of food that was quickly available was from an initial donation from Food for Kidz to the Bayat Foundation for their work with the impoverished in Afghanistan. The Bayat Foundation graciously made available what remained from 500,000 meals that airlifted from the 437th Air Wing, MPLS in early spring. A response for humanitarian aid following a natural disaster has to be well planned and coordinated through many channels to affect the best results. Every point of contact, from the warehouse pickup, logistics transport, organizational support and the planned and well-orchestrated distribution, needs to be in sync and with all prepared to perform their respective duties. The coordination of these events was masterfully handled by Todd Cline, CTO of Host Nation PerspectivesSWA.

Afghanistan IL food to be delivered to landslide flooding areaAfghan survivors wait for food donations Tuesday, May 6, near where a double landslide struck in the northeastern province of Badakhshan. More than 2,000 people were killed when a mass of rock and mud came crashing down Friday, May 2, in the village of Abi Barak.

According to a recent CNN article published on May 5th  “White tents line the sides of the valley where the landslide struck. Some villagers weep, others pray. The remnants of their shattered community lies buried below, submerged under as much as 60 meters of mud. In the space of one devastating week, natural disasters killed more people in Afghanistan than they did all last year. At the heart of the destruction was the double landslide that engulfed a village in a remote northeastern province on Friday, killing more than 2,000 people.”

“The scale of this landslide is absolutely devastating, with an entire village practically wiped away,” said Richard Danziger, the chief of mission for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Afghanistan. “Hundreds of families have lost everything and are in immense need of assistance.” (quoted from CNN article)
Food for Kidz is also currently working with Richard Danziger’s staff at International Organization of Migration to provide solutions for further aid and redevelopment in the future. Food for Kidz, along with ImpactLives is donating over 500,000 additional meals in response to the needs not only in the landslide area, but the northern region devastated by the flooding.

One Thousand Bikes Donated Thanks to a Caring Young Man

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bikes3A bicycle is a pastime for most Americans, but in many parts of the world a bicycle is a critical mode of transportation that serves many purposes. From transporting goods to the market, giving rides, and getting to work or school, to navigating limited road infrastructures bicycles often become a valuable source of mobility.

Bicycles are a long-term resource that requires very little maintenance and no expensive fuel. When something as simple as a bicycle can solve multiple issues and offer sustainable transportation, then it’s important to give our attention and resources to getting bicycles to those who can use them.

Thanks to Isaiah, Many People Have Bicycles

Isaiah, a young man from southwest Minnesota has a passion for helping others. He pays close attention to world events, and lets the needs of others inspire him to take action. Seeing the Haiti hurricane destruction prompted him to raise $500 and start collecting bikes to give away. Over the course of six months, Isaiah was able to motivate his family, friends, and neighbors into helping him collect bikes. Together they got the word out and people started donating bikes which he had refurbished in Iowa and then prepared to eventually ship to Haiti, Afghanistan and parts of Africa.
Isaiah said he is working on “getting some bike paths around Byron, MN,” his hometown, as well as collecting “bikes for kids who don’t have any” in his area. Isaiah highlights his causes on his own website, “Isaiah Bikes for a Cause”.

Food for Kidz Pledged to Help!

bikes6 loadingFood for Kidz heard what Isaiah wanted to do and pledged to help him get the bicycles he collected delivered to Haiti, Afghanistan and other places around the world. Isaiah collected an amazing 1,000 bicycles in his efforts! Food for Kidz worked with Isaiah, his parents and Public Affairs to coordinate not only the shipment, but the witnessing of the airlift by Isaiah and his friends. They were allowed on the airfield and treated to a tour of the C-5 airplane by the Air Force pilots.

Isaiah was able to sit in the cockpit seats of the pilot, co-pilot, and navigator. Together, we witnessed the loading of the aircraft and the 1,000 bikes that have no doubt changed the lives of bikes4those who have received them.

Thank you, Isaiah, for making a difference in the lives of so many people. We look forward to all the great things you will continue to accomplish.

Food Shipment Aids Hunger Crisis in Afghanistan

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On January 4, 2014, The New York Times published an article about the state of affairs in Afghanistan regarding severe malnutrition of children. The situation is indeed bleak, as so many areas of the country are overwhelmed with similar stories of children and families needing relief long before (and after) the story ran here in the United States.
impact lives kids fighting hunger food for kidzIn response, in part, to the article, “Afghanistan’s Worsening, and Baffling, Hunger Crisis”  and a better global understanding of the magnitude of the crisis, the largest humanitarian airlift since 1999 was sent to Afghanistan from the 437th Airlift Wing. Meals packaged by Food for Kidz, Impact Lives and Kids Fighting Hunger volunteers were sent along with quilts made and donated by women of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church of Buffalo Lake, MN. In fact, the airlift from 437th Airlift Wing consisted of 150,000 pounds of food and goods.
Food for Kidz is able to put 100% of donations toward food and maximize the efforts of so many people in order to act quickly when the need and opportunity to respond presents itself. Thank you to volunteers and our partners, ImpactLives (St. Louis Park) and Kids Fighting Hunger (Sartell/St. Cloud) for helping feed many children in Afghanistan.
“Together is a wonderful place to be.”
 
 

Can You Help on Wednesday in Stewart, MN?

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bagging food newsletterOne scoop at a time, each meal needs to be packaged with precision and care. It’s volunteers, willing to scoop, measure, and weigh who have helped package and feed millions of people around the world. Two hours of measuring ingredients and visiting with friends turns into so much more, when it’s amplified by more volunteers, more two hour time increments, and thousands of meals ready to ship!

Never under-estimate the power of one person to make a difference. That’s why each First Wednesday of the Month we offer a consistent packing event for those who can give of their time and get involved with Food for Kidz in meaningful ways.

Why help package food on the first Wednesday of each month?

  • If you participated in a recent event and want to do it again right away and continue helping, rather than waiting for the next event to get organized.
  • If you are not part of an organization or club that is large enough to schedule your own packing event
  • You want to bring a child to try it for the first time and show them what a meaningful experience it is.
  • You are looking for a way to give back and volunteer locally, for a few hours or as many as you’d like.
  • To experience the process and learn, so you can better prepare and organize for your own upcoming food packing event.
  • A small group you are a part of wants a hands-on learning experience or service project.
  • Service learning opportunity for small youth groups or homeschool cooperatives to teach: world issues, social studies, geography, health and nutrition.
  • You are planning a mission trip abroad and will be somewhere that Food for Kidz food is received; it’s good to experience the complete process from beginning to end.

Your donation of $32.40, together with your willingness to work will not only feed a child for 7 months, but also provide the protein and nutrition to function and thrive like never before.

YOUR help is needed!

First Wednesday of Each Month
Cactus Jack’s
Hwy 212 East
Stewart, MN
Shift One: 4pm to 6pm
Shift Two: 6pm to 8pm
* Watch for occasional date changes depending where the 1st Wednesday of the Month lands on the calendar!

Working Together to Accomplish So Much

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working together to send food to the PhilippinesTogether is indeed, a wonderful place to be, as evidenced recently when many organizations came together to package, ship, and distribute over 1.5 million healthy meals to the Philippines. Millions of people are still recovering from the devastating Typhoon Haiyan on November 8, 2013, but together, with the help of many volunteers, donors, and organizations who value partnerships we can accomplish so much.

OutreachLogoRNine years ago, Food for Kidz helped the Outreach Program founders, Floyd Hammer and Kathy Hamilton get started in Union, Iowa. Since that time, Outreach continues to focus on developing services in the area of water, food, medicine, and education and values partnering with other organizations to further their efforts. It’s Outreach who initiated coordination of the 1. 5 million meals to the Philippines, pulling in other organizations: Food for Kidz, Rotary International, Somebody Cares International, Comprehensive Disaster Response and Friends Against Hunger. We are proud to share this story and its testament to what can be accomplished when we all work together!
The loading of 1,425,600 nutritious meals for disaster relief in the Philippines from Outreach’s Des Moines warehouse began on Monday, Dec. 23. Five forty-foot containers began loading in the frigid weather that day. Two more loaded on Tuesday and the remaining loaded on Thursday. Since the previous announcement in November of one million meals donated, an additional 425,600 meals have been provided. The meals were packaged by volunteers across the U.S. and will be distributed in the Philippines by Somebody Cares International, Rotary International, and Comprehensive Disaster Response Services.

“We are delighted that Rotary International made it possible to send additional meals and we appreciate Somebody Cares International for their support,” said Outreach, Inc. Founder Floyd Hammer. “We are very grateful to Food for Kidz in Minnesota and Friends Against Hunger in Missouri for also contributing meals. We are sending a real Christmas present to the Philippines!”
Rotary International Clubs in the U.S. and Philippines are integral partners in this initiative. Rotary District 6000 of Iowa and District 7230 of New York, under the leadership of District Governors Jacque Andrew, Matts Ingemanson, and Outreach Board Member Renato Romano of the Beverly Hills Rotary are providing financial support for transport of the meals. Mr. Romano presented the Outreach program to Rotary Clubs in Beverly Hills, New York, and Washington, D.C. to raise additional funds for the Philippine effort.
Somebody Cares International, a non-profit with expertise in disaster and crisis response, Vice President, Jodie Chiricosta says, “We are so grateful for the partnership with Outreach. Together with Rotary we will be able to deliver and assist with the distribution of the 1.5 million nutritious meals to typhoon survivors in some of the hardest hit areas. It will be a life-saver for many communities — a real answer to prayer.”

Comprehensive Disaster Response Services (CDRS), also on the ground in the Philippines, and Romano will assist with the distribution of the meals. Distribution of meals will be under the personal guidance of Philippine Rotary Governor Daumonguiller Tumangan. Rotarians at Cebu, Manila, and Tacloban will assist in delivery and distribution. The shipping time is forty-five to sixty days.
Together is indeed, a wonderful place to be!

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