We currently fund four feeding centers between 2 islands. Our very first feeding center is located on the island of Mamitupu which feeds 150 children per day. Most of the kids are between the ages of 1-4. Babies under one are usually nursing, and at 5 years old they can get one meal a day at school. However, the pastors that run these centers will try and give food to any age that needs it. We have known grown to 7 feeding centers feeding a total of 1,000 children per day, and they are also mainly between 1-4 years old. There are women who have been hired as cooks at both locations. They prepare all of the meals and receive a small salary each month.
The process begins when these children go to the local clinic where they are weighed and measured. The doctors have signs they look for to determine malnourishment. Some of the signs are distended belly, reddish streaks in their hair and stunted growth. Many of these kids are very small for their age. If they are deemed “malnourished” by the local doctor, they are sent to the Pastor of the island to be added to the list of children who get one meal per day. The Pastor is in charge of the feeding center operations. We have Pastor Edidio in Mamitupu who handles purchasing the food for that feeding center and paying three cooks to make food each day. We have Pastor Venancio and his wife Indira in Ailigandi in charge of that location. These men and their families are incredible and have huge servant hearts for their people.
This is an actively moving and fluid organization and we seek to be constantly advancing in a positive direction. This will never be a stagnant operation. We want to see kids get healthy, parents become educated, and feeding centers not needed in the years to come. We plan to open many more centers over the years and create a model on how to operate a successful feeding center. We also have a vision for serving orphans and giving them hope and a home.