Four-year-old Mika clutches her mother's hand as they go to a feeding center supported by Midwest Food Bank Haiti. Their journey takes 15 minutes down a dusty, uneven road past barren gardens—a stark reminder of Haiti's agricultural challenges. Mika's mother, like many others, dreams of bountiful harvests but knows the depleted soil has made this impossible.
The feeding center is a haven. The sound of children singing fills the air as Mika and her mother approach. Before meals are served, the children listen to a story or sing about hope and faith, grounding the experience in community and spirituality. For Mika, the meal she receives here—a carefully prepared serving of 680 calories and 20 grams of protein—is a lifeline, the only sustenance she'll have all day.
The Unseen Sacrifices of Parents
While Mika eats, her mother waits, her eyes betraying her own hunger. She's torn between joy that her child is fed and the gnawing hunger in her stomach. Recently, staff noticed a mother quietly taking food from her child's plate, driven by desperation. These moments have prompted Midwest Food Bank to reconsider its approach: Should they begin providing meals for parents as well?
"Feeding the children is vital, but when parents are starving, the cycle of suffering continues," says Hein Vingerling, founder of Matthew 28. "How can we help children thrive if their caregivers are too weak to care for them?"
A Bigger Picture: Systemic Challenges in Haiti
Haiti's food crisis is a complex issue. Hein, who recently visited Bo Hoc, described worsening conditions. Despite reports that food prices had stabilized, the reality is sobering: prices have dropped because half the population cannot afford food. In rural areas like Bo Hoc, poor soil and inadequate infrastructure mean that even during harvest season, yields are insufficient to sustain communities.
Organizations like Midwest Food Bank and Matthew 28 are working to address these systemic issues. The feeding centers are a crucial lifeline, but the need far outweighs the current resources. The last shipment of 44,000 pounds of food served many, but Hein's visit underscored the urgency of sending more.
The Cost of Hope: How You Can Help
Mika's story is just one of thousands. Expanding the program to include parents would require additional resources, but the impact could be transformative. For just $100, Midwest Food Bank can provide over 300 meals through its Tender Mercies program. By donating today, you can help fill the next shipment and ensure that families like Mika's have access to life-saving meals. Donate Now to make a difference.