Feb-March-April 2025 Family Assistance Project

Hola from Ecuador!

We hope that you are all fairing well and that you have some peace after a tumultuous year in 2024. 

We are doing okay as Miguel continues his fight against cancer. 

At the end of last year, we did not do our annual food basket drive for several reasons:

1. Miguel’s health challenges.
2. Many families seemed to be in a better financial position than at previous year-ends.
3. There were multiple organizations doing similar projects and the field was very ‘over-saturated.’
4. We suspected that the real challenges would come in the first quarter of 2025.

It looks like we were right. As of today, the poverty and unemployment rates have climbed higher than the COVID era. Families, while receiving a bit of relief during the US Holiday period at the end of 2024, are in a tough place now. With a shift in the political arena, the deportation of thousands of Ecuadorians from the US back to Ecuador, extended and pervasive electricity cuts, and a longer than usual drought season, families are hurting now. They could use a ‘leg up’ now.

Our desire now is to reach 90 families over the next 3 months with not only enough food to feed a family of 4 for a week, but identify other challenges like medical, educational, and the like as we visit and spend time with those most in need.

We will begin to identify the most vulnerable families this last week in January and continue during February, March, and April to provide relief where we can as we can. Inevitably, we will encounter many unique but challenging situations as we travel to different inland communities along the coast of Ecuador. We will address these needs in the best way that we can, providing opportunities to 'pay it forward' while emphasizing human dignity and also encouraging reciprocity. With 20 years of experience in relief effort in developing countries, we've learned a few things about how not to make relief efforts toxic to those receiving, and how to look beyond immediate relief to something more sustainable and achievable to the families we serve.

We would like to start getting relief into the hands of those most in need as soon as possible. If you would like to make a donation towards this project:

 30.00 dollars, when teamed up with another 30.00 dollar donation will feed one family of 4 for a week.

60.00 dollars will feed one family of 4 for a week.

120.00 dollars will feed tow families of four for a week.

600.00 dollars will feed ten families of 4 for a week.

The cost of one basket includes assembly, transport of product, and delivery to families. It also includes follow-up with families that have received relief to check up on them and share a continuing message of hope.

Our ‘reach’ will be determined by your giving. Help us to meet our goals over the next few months. This project often sets the tone for the year’s ministry, and much good has been born out of these simple acts of kindness and generosity. 

We will update you all frequently with out progress. Please share this page with others as we seek to meet the needs of as many families as possible. We appreciate your coming alongside us in this as you are able.

With Much Love and thanks,

Miguel, Lauren, and Kate