CHARITABLE organisation Food For the Poor (FFP) Jamaica is calling on donors locally, in the Diaspora, and across the world to partner with the entity in its mission to provide housing for impoverished Jamaicans and assist them in leading meaningful, sustainable lives.

The management of FFP has set a target to garner the support of 400,000 donors for this cause under its new ‘Build Back the Love for Jamaica’ campaign.

Part of the charity’s 40th anniversary celebrations, the campaign, which was officially launched on Wednesday at FFP’s headquarters in Ellerslie Pen, Spanish Town, St Catherine, aims to improve the socio-economic conditions of the less fortunate by providing shelter and also providing a means for them to become sustainable through income-generating projects.

Chairman, FFP Jamaica, Andrew Mahfood, said that while the goal of 400,000 donors seems to be an “audacious” task, he expressed confidence in his team to get it done, to which those present gave a resounding verbal affirmation.

He suggested that those who choose to support the campaign could give as little as $1,000, US$10, CAN$10, which would be greatly appreciated and will make a difference, noting that donors have been helping to impact hundreds of thousands of lives in Jamaica.

Mahfood noted that over the past 40 years FFP, with the help of donors, has built about 37,000 homes and has partnered with thousands of churches and institutions to distribute cargo and food. He said the entity has also constructed over 300 schools in Jamaica, established 14 fishing villages, planted fruit trees, and distributed wheelchairs.

“Our Build Back the Love for Jamaica Campaign is one that we want to continue our legacy of love while helping to develop a more sustainable Jamaica,” he said.

Referring to the saying “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime”, Mahfood stressed that this is what FFP is about, “creating sustainability whether through sewing … selling items … it’s about how do we help them with farming, other projects that create that continuous sustainability and get people on their feet. The truth is a home is the start, nobody can thrive without a home and our home is a perfect start-up for a family”.

In the meantime, the FFP chairman encouraged the media to continue to highlight and bring to the attention of the charity, stories of people in need, particularly those living in deplorable conditions — with leaking roofs, no power, no bathroom, no water — so that an intervention can be done.

“We have evolved as a charity, so it’s no longer just about providing relief, it’s also about providing sustainability, and as we celebrate our 40th year of serving the poorest of the poor, we affirm our pledge and our continued unwavering support for the people of Jamaica,” Mahfood added.

At the same time, the ‘Boom with Love’ campaign was also launched at the event in support of FFP’s ‘Build Back the Love for Jamaica’ campaign. This involves Boom Energy Drink once again partnering with FFP Jamaica to provide another 10 new houses for Jamaicans in need.

The donation is part of Boom’s corporate social responsibility initiative. The 10 new dwellings will make a total of 30 houses sponsored by Boom, through FFP, since 2020.

Francois Chalifour, director, marketing, Wisynco Group, which has the Boom brand, said it has been a privilege to be able to partner with an entity like FFP, noting that he believes Jamaica does not fully appreciate the work of the charity and what it has been able to provide for the nation’s poor over the years.

He challenged corporate Jamaica to do more to give back to the needy, in partnership with FFP.

Previously, National Baking Company Foundation had announced that the foundation will increase its annual donation to FFP to 12 houses, up from 11 and 10 in previous years.

Wisynco and National are long-time donors of FFP. The two entities handed over two houses to needy families last Thursday. The units were the first to be donated under the ‘Build Back the Love for Jamaica’ campaign.

FFP, Jamaica’s leading charity organisation, is an international non-profit entity, which provides food, housing, education, and other support for the less fortunate.