Food for the Poor celebrating 28 years of service here

A family poses with one of the houses built
A family poses with one of the houses built

It is now 28 years since Food for the Poor (Guyana) Inc. (FFP) has been serving the local community through numerous development projects, an accomplishment the organisation recognises would not have been possible without the support of its donors.

FFP, which has been operating in Guyana since June, 1991, kicked off its anniversary celebrations on June 3, with a morning of reflection, which was followed by a dinner on the evening of June 8, at the Pegasus Hotel.

The occasion marks 28 years of work carried out by the organisation, in its fulfilment of its missions to save and transform the lives of the poor.

In a press release, FFP noted some of the work it has done over the years, including the construction of more than 3,800 free housing units, the construction and repair of schools and the distribution of thousands of containers of goods countrywide.

“The non-governmental organisation also provides medical equipment and supplies, pharmaceuticals, office furniture, seeds, agricultural tools, reading and text books, students and teacher’s furniture and sports equipment to various ministries and organisations on a regular basis,” the release stated, adding that over 2500 wheelchairs have been distributed to disabled persons across Guyana free of cost. That initiative, a collaborative effort with the Free Wheel Chair Mission of the United States, began in 2015 and is still ongoing.

FFP has also been involved in water sanitation and clinic projects, self-sustaining agricultural and animal husbandry projects, and has provided technical training links to help families generate income and become self-sustaining.

The release referenced a pig project, which was established in Regions 5 and 10, and from which 60 persons—30 from each region—are benefiting. It was related that as part of that initiative, each family received three piglets, feed, and pens for the animals, as well as were provided with technical support.

There was also mention of a bee project, launched in 2017 on the West Coast of Berbice, which benefitted 30 farmers at the Number 29 Village, Trafalgar. The release stated that those farmers received hives, suits, veils, gloves, hive tools, smokers, hive brushes and five-gallon buckets.

It was stated that FFP Guyana’s Chief Executive Officer, Kent Vincent, noted that the services delivered could not have been done without the generosity of the overseas and local donors, and thanked FFP Florida and the work of the staff.