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A storm can level a home in minutes, but rebuilding a life takes an entire community working together. After Hurricane Melissa ripped through western Jamaica, we came back from the ground with a clear picture of what recovery really takes: food when cupboards are empty, safe water when systems fail, a temporary place to sleep, and then a rapid shift toward rebuilding homes and restoring livelihoods. The damage was uneven and often heartbreaking. Some neighborhoods stood untouched while others were flattened. Power lines were down for miles. Families were left wondering not only where they would sleep that night, but how they would earn a living the next morning.

In this episode, we walk you through what large scale relief actually looks like. Food For The Poor became the logistics backbone for partners like the World Food Programme, World Central Kitchen, and Global Empowerment Mission. Shipments were cleared. Thousands of family kits were packed every day. Aid moved quickly through a trusted church network that reaches deep into every part of the island. You will hear how volunteers and the Jamaica Defence Force kept assembly lines moving, how the Jamaican diaspora and private donors helped move faster, and how voices like Shaggy, Sean Paul, and Cedella Marley turned their influence into planes, pallets, and hot meals for families in need.

But the numbers only tell part of the story. Behind every shipment and every pallet is a person: a fisher who lost his boat, a farmer whose crops and chickens were washed away, a factory worker who may not see electricity for months, and children whose schools must be rebuilt while exam dates keep getting closer. We lay out a simple and focused 30, 60, and 90 day plan to connect emergency relief to long term recovery. That includes ShelterBox tents, rapid homebuilding, boat and engine repairs, new seed and livestock for farmers, and psychosocial support through local churches to help kids regain routine and stability.

If Jamaica has ever given you joy through its music, its culture, or simply its warmth, this is a moment to give some of that joy back. Listen to the episode. Share it with someone who cares about effective disaster relief. And if you are able, help us keep supplies moving and homes rising. Subscribe for updates, leave a review so others can find these stories, and consider supporting the rebuild so families can stand on steady ground again.

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Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm struck Jamaica on Tuesday October 28th.  The devastation is so severe, the road to build back will be measured in months and years... not days. Food For The Poor, President/CEO, Ed Raine, unpacks how a deeply rooted network of partnerships and detailed preparation turns urgency into action: pre-positioned kits moving the moment the storm passes, church partners covering every corner of the island, and a command center that syncs government and private logistics to reach people without wasting a minute. 
 
We discuss what matters first—clean water, hygiene, tarps, oral rehydration, women’s care kits, and baby supplies—and how blocked roads and power outages make coordination difficult. Ed widens the lens to see the damage: supermarkets and airport in Montego Bay flooded, hotels damaged, tourism paused, and wages stalled for thousands of families who rely on a steady economy. Recovery isn’t just cleaning mud and repairing roofs; it’s restarting lives. Once that happens, the long road of recovery begins: zinc and materials for homes, then training and market access for farmers and fishers tomorrow, so subsistence can become sustainable income. 
 
Ed shares the personal stakes—staff still waiting to hear from loved ones, small towns hit hard, and the resilience that defines Jamaican communities. The goal is simple: meet urgent needs without losing sight of what brings dignity back to Jamaicans. Listen, share, and be part of the coordinated relief and rebuilding effort. Subscribe for updates, leave a review to help others find this story, and consider donating at www.foodforthepoor.org/Melissa25 to turn compassion into action. 

To Donate to Hurricane Melissa Relief: www.foodforthepoor.org/Melissa25  

Beyond The Plate is a podcast by international charity, Food For The Poor

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A cascade of small choices became a lifeline for families in Guatemala.  James Ronaldo Meyer was raised in Wisconsin and he turned a childhood lesson about wasting water into a mission to build safe homes for families in Guatemala. From simple birthday gifts, school assemblies and a fundraiser to duct-taped his principal-- James’ story shows how local generosity can scale into lasting change. Along the way, we explore what it means to see Jesus in the poor and to trust that faith and persistence can open doors. 
 
James took his first trip to Guatemala at age ten, seeing extreme poverty—leaking roofs and floors made of mud. Now he’s building homes with strong walls, solid doors, with dignity, and safety. He shares about the power of community groups like Rotary, Knights of Columbus, 4‑H, and parish families.  Returning in 2023, James met Fidelia, who had lost her sight yet filled the room with thanks for a home that changed her days. He also honors his grandmother, Diane, whose memorial gifts now shelter another family. 
 
James experienced major challenges to fundraising, but you’ll hear practical fundraising insights. Most of all, his adoption story that started this amazing journey of generosity. If you’ve ever wondered how your own circle could fund a home, this conversation will give you both the why and the how. 
 
We celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month as we help keep the momentum going: visit foodforthepoor.org/together, subscribe for more stories, and share this episode with someone who loves turning small acts into big change... To donate and learn more;

www.foodforthepoor.org/together 

www.foodforthepoor.org/juntos  

“Sharing God’s Love in Guatemala” project - @sharinggodsloveinguatemala 

Beyond The Plate is a podcast by international charity, Food For The Poor

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Learn what happens when the people behind the camera recall their viewpoint of a life-changing journey. On this moving episode of Beyond the Plate, we turn the cameras around to meet Viviana Moreno and Jose Manuel, from the television program ‘Come Home with Jen Mallan’ (airing on Christian Television Network), whose mission was to document poverty in Honduras became a deeply personal journey of connection and personal transformation. 
 
Honduras presents a stark reality—over two-thirds of the population lives in poverty, with millions surviving on less than $2 per day. For Jose, born in Colombia and raised in an orphanage before being adopted by an American family, the conditions triggered profound realizations: "That could have been me." His emotional journey culminates in gratitude to his adoptive mother for changing his life's trajectory. 
 
Through their lenses, Viviana and Jose captured the full spectrum of human experience—from the heartbreak of the San Pedro Sula garbage dump where people spend decades foraging through trash, to the joy of children at FFTP’s Angels of Hope homes where sustainable initiatives like bakeries that double as vocational training centers. 
 
This Hispanic Heritage Month, Food For The Poor celebrates the connections between cultures and how compassion transcends borders. You don't need a passport to make a difference—just a compassionate heart.  

Visit www.foodforthepoor.org/together or www.foodforthepoor.org/juntos  to help transform lives across Latin America as... WE HONOR AND INSPIRE EACH OTHER...TOGETHER 

@comehomewithjenmallan  

@ctn_media  

Beyond The Plate is a podcast by international charity, Food For The Poor

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In July 2024 Hurricane Beryl slammed into the Caribbean, leaving a trail of devastation, still felt today. In Grenada, 95% of homes in two regions were destroyed. St. Vincent and the Grenadines saw 90% of its infrastructure damaged. For Food for the Poor Jamaica, this wasn't just another disaster response—it became deeply personal, when it hit home. 
 
Kivette Silvera, former Executive Director of Food for the Poor Jamaica, reveals the extraordinary behind-the-scenes reality of disaster response work. "Once a hurricane or any disaster is on its way, it doesn't matter who you are," Silvera explains. "You are now in disaster response mode, so it means no titles."  
 
Preparation begins long before storms appear. Teams establish protocols, secure resources, and ensure staff members are ready to respond at different intervals— weeks before impact. Yet the most remarkable stories emerge from the personal sacrifices made by those responding. Learn about one team member who lost his own roof and went without electricity for weeks but continued coming to work daily, helping others.  

 
These stories illuminate Silvera's powerful perspective:  

“This isn't mere employment—it's answering a calling to serve others in their darkest moments, bringing hope when all seems lost.”  

 
Through partnerships with other organizations and community groups, Food for the Poor amplifies their impact across Jamaica. "Together we are stronger. Together we make a difference."  

We invite you to join this mission today? Click here: www.foodforthepoor.org/emergencyrelief   

Beyond The Plate is a podcast by international charity, Food For The Poor

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A Christmas promise made in desperation. A small Midwestern town demonstration of compassion. A struggling Honduran village where families go days without food. These seemingly unrelated elements converge in an extraordinary story of connection that demonstrates how compassion can bridge any divide.  We explore the remarkable story of how the communities of Greensburg, Indiana and Cucuyagua, Honduras formed an unlikely but powerful connection through compassionate community action. 
 
When Tom Ricke's wife Susan faced a life-threatening medical emergency on Christmas Day 1990, he made a vow to God—if she survived, he would do anything asked of him. Years later, Father Carlton Beever visited their church in Greensburg, Indiana, sharing heartbreaking stories of children and families struggling to survive in Honduras.  

 
What followed defied all expectations. The parishioners of St Mary’s Church and community of Greensburg mobilized in unprecedented ways. Even Mayor Joshua Marsh joined the mission, traveling to Honduras and forming meaningful connections. What resulted was not just building houses, but comprehensive support systems including community centers, feeding programs, education facilities, and job training. 
 
This powerful story reminds us that when hearts break open for others, churches, families and even local students can create extraordinary change. Join us to discover how two communities separated by distance, language, and circumstances found common ground in compassion and created a miracle that continues to grow. 

To learn more about Food for the Poor's integral community development work in Honduras, visit foodforthepoor.org/adoptavillage  

Beyond The Plate is a podcast by international charity, Food For The Poor

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Better futures are built deep in the mountains of Colombia, where teenagers like Sandra once made a treacherous daily journey down mountain trails to collect unsafe water to drink. Thanks to transformative programs in Colombia serving 46 families, she's attending school instead of carrying heavy water jugs, and local doctors report significantly improved health outcomes throughout the community. Sandra’s transformation exemplifies the sustainable community development approach we explore in Colombia – where solving one critical need creates ripple effects across education, health, and economic opportunity.  

 
We explore powerful stories of communities transitioning from production of forced illegal crops to thriving farms. These same communities now produce export-quality blackberries, eliminating exploitative middlemen and creating legitimate livelihoods that transform not just present communities but future generations' possibilities. 
 
We also visit a remarkable entrepreneurial school where students like Yohan create their own businesses complete with secret recipes, custom packaging, and marketing plans. These schools function as business laboratories where students develop the skills to achieve economic independence. When communities, local governments, and supporting organizations all bring something to the table, sustainable change becomes not just possible but inevitable. Join us as we continue to explore how going beyond immediate relief creates lasting transformation for generations to come. 

Beyond The Plate is a podcast by international charity, Food For The Poor

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What happens when rural indigenous women gain access to global markets? Lives transform, cycles of poverty break, and daughters begin to dream of careers unimaginable to their mothers. This powerful story unfolds as we speak with Ruth Álvarez-DeGolia, who started Mercado Global as an Ivy-League university sophomore selling handcrafted items on campus, and has since built a movement empowering thousands of women across rural Guatemala.
 
The magic happens at the intersection of traditional craftsmanship and economic opportunity. Through a partnership with Food for the Poor that provides industrial sewing machines, looms, critical training and more, these artisans are creating products now carried by Levi Strauss, Stitch Fix, and Stuart Weitzman. But the transformation runs deeper than fashion – with 75% of participating women now sending their children to school and many opening their first bank accounts.
 
Discover how beautiful, handcrafted products are creating generational change, and why Ruth believes indigenous Guatemalan women deserve to be recognized as some of the world's most innovative rural entrepreneurs. Support this work by visiting foodforthepoor.org/mothersday or following #MercadoGlobal. 

@levis 

@stitchfix 

@stuartweitzman 

Beyond The Plate is a podcast by international charity, Food For The Poor

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Mike Mantel, President and CEO of Living Water International, shares his remarkable journey from installing sprinkler systems in California to addressing the global water crisis through physical and spiritual transformation in partnership with Food For The Poor. 

At the heart of Living Water International's mission, called "Misión Integral"—the powerful interplay between physical water and the living water of the gospel delivered through local churches. When communities gain access to clean water, children can attend school, women spend less time collecting water and face fewer safety risks, and health improves dramatically. In other words, WHEN WATER FLOWS, LIFE GROWS.  More profoundly, when local churches facilitate these water projects, they become more visible and relevant in their communities, delivering living and literal water. 
 
The transformation extends beyond individual lives to entire communities. In Honduras, families once paying thousands of dollars annually for trucked water now pay just hundreds for maintained systems, freeing up resources for education and nutrition. Churches that once competed now collaborate for community good. In addition to water flowing in communities, so does the Gospel message.  
 
Want to be part of this life-changing work? Join us in supporting Food For The Poor and our partner to bring both physical and spiritual water to communities in need. 

foodforthepoor.org/waterday 

@living_water 

#livingwater 

Beyond The Plate is a podcast by international charity, Food For The Poor

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International Women’s Day, celebrated annually on March 8, honors the incredible achievements of women and creates real opportunities for young girls to succeed. 

Step into inspiring conversations on Beyond the Plate as we celebrate International Women's Day with a powerful episode focused on the theme of women's empowerment through education. Our panelists; Vivian Borja (Food For The Poor’s Chief Marketing Officer), Lisa Lee Arneaud (Founder, LA/PR Firm) and Michelle Gollapalli (Food For The Poor’s, Chief Development Officer) with diverse backgrounds, share unique insights and personal stories highlighting how investing in girls can cultivate resilient communities. As they dissect the barriers women face, you'll hear invaluable wisdom on tackling “imposter syndrome”, fostering self-advocacy, and the importance of mentorship.  Listen on how to “Claim You Agency”. The discussions challenge traditional perceptions and encourage young girls, women and men alike to engage with meaningful actions that uplift women in their communities. By illustrating tangible action points, our panelists shine a light on the impact every individual can make towards a more equitable society. 
 
This episode ultimately serves as a heartfelt call to action for all—encouraging us to champion educational initiatives and foster support networks that empower us to invest in girls today for a better tomorrow. Tune in and engage in these vital conversations, and let's continue to amplify women's voices and build a brighter future together!  Together we invest in the future of girls—because when we lift-up girls today, we’re building stronger women and communities for tomorrow!   

www.foodforthepoor.org/womensday 

#internationalwomensday 

@lisaleeinc   

@thelaprfirm  

Beyond The Plate is a podcast by international charity, Food For The Poor

Sign-up for our Best Bite and get exclusive access to our podcast, including food recipes from the 15 countries Food For The Poor serves, giveaways, e-books, and more. Click to join our Best Bite: https://bit.ly/BTP-bestbite

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