Five Cents Can Save A Child

Irma went from a lethargic child to an energetic 6-year-old with rosy cheeks

Those bloated bellies you see on children in developing countries don’t mean they’re healthy. They’re likely an indication that the children have intestinal parasites. It’s a widespread problem. In fact, approximately one-third of the world’s population – or two billion people – suffer from diseases and developmental issues caused by intestinal parasites.

Food for the Hungry in Peru is walking with community members to develop a unique approach to the problem: a Parasite Museum. And Irma Luz Tapullima found new life as a result.

Through a relationship with global manufacturers of deworming medication, Food for the Hungry can provide a full year’s supply for one person for as low as five cents. Five cents helped change Irma’s life, giving her energy and physical health, as well as an understanding of her need for a Savior.

Within just a few days of receiving her first dose of deworming medicine that Food for the Hungry had packed and shipped from the states, Irma went from a lethargic child with glazed eyes to an energetic 6-year-old with rosy cheeks and a newfound ability to learn and grow strong.

At the Parasite Museum, Irma not only learned what parasites are, but she saw for herself what had made her sick. An ultraviolet light showed microbes on Irma’s hands. Food for the Hungry staff members explained how simple changes like washing hands and wearing shoes could keep Irma and her family healthier. As people go through the museum, Food for the Hungry staff members also teach about the reality of sin – and the need for a Savior to be cleansed from sin.

 

What we do

• Receive Gift-in-Kind donations from organizations.
• Ship and distribute relevant goods to our fields, meeting the physical and spiritual needs of the poor.
• Provide opportunities for donors to multiply their donations and send tangible help to the poor around the world.

 

Food for the Hungry regularly receives non-cash donated items – called Gift-in-Kinds or GIK – from large organizations, ranging from seed, farming equipment, educational supplies, medicine and medical equipment.

The GIK commodities are then shipped and distributed to impoverished communities to meet needs and reflect God’s abundant love to the poor around the world.

The shipment of GIK is made possible through the generosity of donors and friends of Food for the Hungry, who see a great opportunity to maximize their donation. “If we receive 100 hospital beds worth $100,000, and it costs us $5,000 to ship and distribute the beds overseas, then every $1 of cash given to ship the beds essentially becomes $20 of commodities shipped to the field and distributed to the world’s poor,” explains Crawford.