Long-term solution for food crisis

ATLANTA, Ga. (May 15, 2008) –Food For The Poor’s inaugural Atlanta event Catch a Tropical Breeze

(L to r) Robin Mahfood (President / CEO of Food For The Poor), Sydney Henry (Food For The Poor’s Radio Manager), Kevin Avery (morning host for Atlanta’s 104.7 FM The FISH), Taylor Scott (morning host for Atlanta’s 104.7 FM The FISH), Mike Moran (General Manager of Atlanta’s 104.7 FM The FISH), and Mike Stoudt (Evening host on 104.7 FM The FISH)

“They only want a better life for their children. These fishermen used to row leaky boats a few hundred feet from shore and catch fish you could fit into a small aquarium. Now they’re hauling in hundreds of pounds of queen snapper that can feed a small village,” said Robin Mahfood, President/CEO of Food For The Poor Inc.

Food For The Poor’s friendship with Kevin and Taylor, their listeners and the entire team at 104.7 FM The FISH, initially started in Jamaica, as did Food For The Poor’s sustainable fishing village program. From 2000 to 2007, Fish Atlanta and their loyal listeners have put faith into action and transformed eight Jamaican fishing villages into self-sustaining communities that are breaking the cycle of generational poverty. In addition to boats, engines, global positioning systems, gear sheds, freezers, fishing equipment, and training, basic housing has been another major component of our campaigns. Our friends at 104.7 The Fish have raised funds for more than 640 housing units across the island of Jamaica.

In Haiti an estimated 80 percent of the people live in abject poverty and most try to survive on less than two U.S. dollars a day. The skyrocketing cost of food means more Haitians are forced to go hungry. Low-income, food-deficient countries, like Haiti, must find immediate and alternative ways to enhance their diminishing food supply. Food For The Poor’s fishing villages are self-help entrepreneurial initiatives, specifically designed to enhance food production in countries facing hunger and malnutrition challenges and encourage sustainability with a viable and marketable product. 

Food For The Poor’s fishing villages benefit not only the fishermen, but also their families and communities. Recipients of the fishing boats are taught deep-sea fishing and business practices that are both ecologically friendly and economically sound.

Food For The Poor, the second largest international relief and development organization in the nation, does much more than simply feed the millions of hungry poor in 16 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. Since 1982, we have provided clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and emergency relief, with more than 96% of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For additional information please visit our Web site www.foodforthepoor.org/atlanta.