Beyond The Plate – A Podcast by Food For The Poor
Food isn't just delicious... it can also change your life! Tune into Beyond the Plate, a new podcast presented by International Charity: Food For The Poor. Get inspired with conversations that nourish the soul. Hear amazing stories of transformation from faith influencers, leaders in the nonprofit sector, and the individuals receiving aid in the 15 countries of Latin America that Food For The Poor serves.
Beyond The Plate – A Podcast by Food For The Poor
Ep.12 - Feed My Starving Children: From Hunger to Hope
Join us as we explore the impactful work of Feed My Starving Children, where volunteers of all ages come together to pack life-saving meals for families in communities across Latin America and the Caribbean. Through personal stories and the energy of the distribution center, we highlight the relentless dedication of this organization, which operates tirelessly to turn hunger into hope (with your two hands). This Giving Tuesday episode, learn about simple acts of giving transforms lives around the world. (foodforthepoor.org/givingtuesday)
The remarkable global impact of Feed My Starving Children is amplified through their partnership with Food for the Poor, as ministry partners, committed to distributing nourishment and hope. We celebrate Feed My Starving Children's monumental achievement of delivering over 4 billion meals globally, underscoring the power of collaboration with local pastors and ministry partners in places like Jamaica, Tanzania and war-torn Ukraine. Delve into the profound conversation about how this partnership offers not just a handout but a hand up, and the spiritual growth that accompanies this mission, resonating deeply with the ethos of interdenominational ministries.
Volunteering doesn't just change the lives of those who receive help—it transforms the givers too. Hear the inspiring stories of teenage volunteers, whose early involvement in charitable activities has cultivated a lifelong commitment to helping others. Their journeys to Jamaica to see the impact of their work firsthand are a testament to the power of community and the spirit of giving. Whether it's the versatility of Mannapak meals or the tireless efforts of organizations serving as safety nets in countries where Food For The Poor serves, this episode highlights how volunteering can create hope and joy for everyone involved.
Beyond The Plate is a podcast by international charity, Food For The Poor
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We're all inspired by our human connection that arises when we share food with others. So what's on your heart becomes a hub for truly heartfelt conversation.
Speaker 2:Tertulia, as they say in Spanish, fostering genuine bonds between individuals, creating that sense of community and connection.
Speaker 1:I'm Paul Jacobs, your podcast co-host, ready to inspire you by conversations that nourish the soul as we go beyond the plate.
Speaker 2:I'm Daniel Patino, welcoming you to join us for some truly inspiring tertulia. Get ready to satisfy that craving for connection and inspiration as we dive into topics that aren't only broaden your perspective but also deepen your understanding of lives of families in Latin America, the Caribbean or even in your own backyard. So, wherever our conversations take us, come along for the ride and let's go Beyond the Plate together.
Speaker 1:Hey guys, it's Giving Tuesday and what an amazing Thanksgiving we all had, right. Well, we have an amazing episode that was recorded not too long ago with our friends from Feed my Starving Children. We actually got on a plane to Richardson, Texas, to meet with the amazing team from Feed my Starving Children. We actually got on a plane to Richardson, Texas, to meet with the amazing team from Feed my Starving Children and it was a party that they had going on at Feed my Starving Children when we were arriving.
Speaker 2:I'm pretty sure it wasn't for us, but it was a party to feed families in Latin America, the Caribbean and throughout the world that need us the most. So I hope you enjoy this episode with our friends from Feed my Starving Children.
Speaker 1:So let's a big shout out to our friends at the Richardson Distribution Center for Feed my Starving Children. Larissa, the amazing team from.
Speaker 1:Feed my Starving Children. Richardson, that's a common name to us here at Food for the Poor, but probably for many of you, if you've been living on the fourth rock from the sun, the third rock from the sun, you don't know about Feed my Starving Children. Where have you been? These guys took us on an amazing tour of their facility. We'll talk a little bit about the organization, but I was just amazed by the fact that when we were there, we got there and they were so gracious to kind of walk us around, because we've been involved with Feed my Starving Children here at Food for the Poor for wow, almost, you know, more than 15 years. But what is really cool is I saw on the wall Luke, chapter 1, verse 37. For nothing is impossible with God.
Speaker 2:I loved it Right, I loved it. I felt like I was coming out of a locker room. Yes, like a, you know, a basketball locker room a football locker room, a soccer locker room, nothing is impossible. And everybody's smacking the sign and saying, yes, I get it, and following those words completely, totally.
Speaker 1:And then of course, the dozens of elementary school kids on a field trip. That was amazing. To pack food, I mean like, okay, so you talk about your. I'm going to give you a second. I want you to tell me your quickly your best field trip ever in elementary school.
Speaker 2:We went to all right. So I lived in South Florida all my life. Yep Grew up, school, all the things. So Everglades the Everglades was the one thing I mean, because it's just, it's bountiful, it covers a lot of area and just all the animals that are there that usually just see in textbooks. You know you're pointing at an ibis, You're pointing at an alligator, it's not the same.
Speaker 3:It's not something.
Speaker 2:Yes, when we went, it was amazing because they took us up and close and personal with an alligator.
Speaker 2:It wasn't a 10-foot gator, it was a 10-inch little baby gator and the mouth is tied but nobody can touch that thing, and I think that was one of the coolest ones, because I really learned something. To this day it stays with me and I think that was the last time I really went into the Everglades as a student, as somebody who wants to learn about the Everglades and its history and what it really is, how big part of it it is to South Florida, but not like this. No, no, no, no, not like this.
Speaker 1:Nope, nope, nope, nope. And every one of these kids were like screaming, they're excited, they're like more rice, and you know, and more protein powder.
Speaker 2:Like Wall Street in the kitchen, I need more sauce. Yes, chef. Protein powder. Like Wall Street in the kitchen, I need more sauce. Yes, chef, I need more sauce.
Speaker 1:I need more meal no, it was a buzz. It was a buzz I mean it affected me when we both of us right. And then of course we finished with that and I remember walking upstairs and the cool part was we saw the very first ever Manipac rice meal. It's kind of like when you go into a restaurant and you see that dollar bill.
Speaker 2:They were hiding it. They should have put yeah, I know what you're talking about. It's like their first check, the first time they get money, and it's the first dollar or something for some.
Speaker 1:Do you remember? People autographed it, Whoever it was that packed it?
Speaker 2:they autographed it. We asked who of that picture is still here. Some of them I've moved along. Some of them I've moved along, but it's a capsule, right, it's a moment in time and a reminder of the generosity, the power behind generosity and how it motivates people to just get out of their skin and do something for others. And they have that all nice and framed and right before they go into the office, like you mentioned.
Speaker 1:Right and you walk in upstairs and then, of course, the thing that got me was we asked the question or I think you asked the question how many times do they do this? It's five times per day, six days a week. I don't think there are a lot of restaurants that are open less than this.
Speaker 2:Five times, five packing sessions a day, six days a week more than likely if you're listening to this podcast at any point of the day or night. Yeah, there is probably a session going on, obviously working hours, but they had if you listen to this already right before bedtime.
Speaker 2:Trust me, today there was, you know, five different groups, five different age groups as well, because, because, like you mentioned, when we went in, it was elementary school kids. I got a six-year-old at home and I saw my daughters, you know, just doing this with the excitement they were playing music. It was a party, a party you don't want to miss out. And then, all of a sudden, we see a new group, right, and it's the local, I don't know, the local bingo shop.
Speaker 2:Let out, right, it looked like my ideas and my egos coming in and working it the same way the kids did, with the same enthusiasm. The party, the noise, Just the atmosphere of giving is just. It was palpable. You were like I'm going to do this, I'm going to get in. I'm shaking my shoulders now thinking about it.
Speaker 1:And you remember, when I nudged you, there was a corner of the group that was packing and helping. Everyone had different assignments. But then there was that group there that looked like they had some developmental challenges, right, but they were there just with all the rest of the kids doing their thing. I don't know exactly what was going on, but you obviously knew there was something unique about them, right? And I was like, oh wow, how awesome that nobody's left out, nobody.
Speaker 2:No, no, no, you are totally 100% correct. Where it's, nobody is left out, and I just love the inspiration that some of you know I'm not going to give away just yet. It's a little teaser, right Some of the inspiration that some of the people that work there were just oozing of with, and the kids picked it up, the adults picked it up, everybody in between picked it up, and then one of those moments were right before those packing event ends. They're like all right, guys, don't forget your help today helped, and they show the numbers on the screen and I mean I don't know if it resonates with some of those kids, but I know at least out of the 20, there's got to be at least one, yeah, right, one that says wow, mom, you know what I did today? Yeah, I fed a family in the other side of the country that I'm probably you and I would never be.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but my hand was in it and my hand is now helping somebody else at the other side of the world. I mean, I'm excited about it, thinking of it once again and I want to go back. The idea is to go back and we're going to help you go back through this podcast and through today's episode because it's otra cosa, it's some other world that you didn't think was in our own backyard. You know, richardson, texas is very near to us. It might be far Lejos, pero nunca a la distancia, a la distancia, a la distancia, pero nunca lejos is what I was trying to say.
Speaker 3:I'm trying to teach you that saying before I leave today.
Speaker 2:So it's very far, but never out of hand's reach or arm's reach right.
Speaker 1:Oh man, I want to go back. So here we go. Our ministry partner, feed my Starving Children, just kind of a little bit about them. They're a Christian ministry Sciences they've developed these non-perishable meal packs that can be assembled, packed and shipped across the world. Wait, wait, wait, wow. Let me say it again, I didn't say across the street, I didn't say across the state, across the world. That particular day, I believe it was Tanzania, that shipment that was going out going to Tanzania, africa, powerful right. That shipment that was going out going to Tanzania, africa, powerful right. They're partnered with food distribution networks that extend the food but also extend the gospel around the world. I told you Luke, chapter 1, verse 37, right there up on the wall.
Speaker 1:And most recently our work with Feed my Starving Children here at Food for the Poor came in the form of sending food, and of course we do so much. But I remember specifically sending food into war-torn Ukraine. I mean it was a very touching time for us because Ukraine's halfway across the world. Food for the Poor works in Latin America and the Caribbean, primarily Latin America and the Caribbean. But we couldn't say no when we looked at our brothers and sisters in need, right. And then we had a ministry partner that was there on the ground and I love a quote from one of their executives who we actually are going to be featuring on our upcoming episode. But it said he said feed my starving children. Don't enter with tanks and M16s. Get this, but box trucks, pallets of food and the gospel for people in bomb shelters and destroyed cities Drop the mic. We could end the podcast right there. We won't, but I mean but I mean powerful, it's strong, powerful, it's really strong.
Speaker 1:And food but I mean powerful, it's strong, powerful, really strong. And food, by starving children and food for the poor. Um, when their founder came, I remember specifically, um, he simply had one question to the executives at the time, more than 15 years ago how can we help you? They asked us that's wonderful, and you want to give them that. That, that last step.
Speaker 2:This is my favorite. Thank you for leaving it for me. That was something else and, uh, this was as of 2022, so not too long ago. All right, more than 3.1 billion billion with a b. What meals sent globally? Wow, okay, so the probably what? The 30 minutes that we we got to see the kids working on it? Yeah, times that, like you said, five days a week, five times a day, six times a week, 365 days that's how you get to 3.1 billion meals.
Speaker 1:That Feed my Starving Children has sent around the world.
Speaker 2:So since I already said that number, that number has changed, just to let you know, increased. Yes, for the good, for the good, for the good, of course it's gone up. Feed my Starving Children does what their name entails. Yeah, feed Our Starving Children. Feed Our Starving Children, our families, families like you and I, families that Food for the Poor has helped over 40 years plus. And Feed my Starving Children has been along for the ride. I Feed my Starving Children has been along for the ride. I mean for the mission to help, to help, more than just a handout, right? Yeah?
Speaker 1:It's a hand up with these meals, and I love that last line where Food for the Poor steps in. Since the time that we've been working with them, one billion of those meals. Okay, just get your head around that.
Speaker 1:And it's not to break our arms patting ourselves on the back here. So, just okay, just get your head around that. And it's not to break our arms patting ourselves on the back here, but to understand the impact of the partnership that we have and why this was so important for us to meet with them. That one out of every three meals in these, in the history of Feed my Starving Children, has gone through the hands of Food for the Poor to beneficiaries that Food for the Poor serves on the ground through pastors, local ministry and trusted ministry partners.
Speaker 2:And it's making it easier for Food for the Poor to go into these countries and say you're going to get help today, tomorrow, next week and a whole year from now. I mean I'm applauding loudly in my head right now for Feed my Starving Children. That's why I wear the Be Kind t-shirt so proud. Get some of that stuff on.
Speaker 1:You can see. What is that honey?
Speaker 2:I'm sorry, I don't know, honey, I don't know what you're calling me honey.
Speaker 1:All right, all right. So here we go Back to Richardson, texas. Right, it's one of many packing and distribution sites in the country, in the United States, and we met some really awesome people. I mean, to me not all heroes wear capes and these were three heroes, that two of them which we met at a Feed my Starving Children pack here in South Florida, just gosh, it's got to be last year already and we discussed with them kind of their passion for the work and it's become kind of more than a job for them. I mean, would you say that right?
Speaker 2:It's two different people two different times. One of them is, I would just say you know Caitlin, right? We're naming names now, of course. Yes, of course, caitlin and Megan. Caitlin and Megan were very, very special to us when we were there at the installations of Feed my Starving Children. Caitlyn would say she's in the middle of her career. She's already in the middle of her life, looking for something stable. She lands with Feed my Starving Children and she is now part of that family where Megan is still trying to figure out life. She's the younger one of the group.
Speaker 2:You're 21 years old, still trying to figure out life. She's the younger one of the group, 21 years old. 21 years old, still trying to figure out where the next career move is Come feed my starving children and is guiding now, is guiding her now into just maturing within this company, within this generosity humongous place of giving and getting people fed, giving of people future, and she is all about that. I just I love them, I love them all. When we met them and we got to share, we got to share with the audience right Right.
Speaker 1:So we asked them. The very first question was what's your why? Everybody has a why. So we asked Caitlin, we asked Megan what's your why?
Speaker 5:Ben Lansalo Just seeing the change in the volunteers when they come through and hearing their stories. I've heard countless stories of where people have been, and one that sticks with me is this one man who packed at a mobile pack and he said he actually was homeless. So he knows how it is to be hungry and not have food. And he found a church and they took him in, cleaned him up, brought him in and now he's packing food for kids who don't have food as well. So my why is hearing people's stories, seeing the change in their lives and then hearing the change about the kids and the lives around the world and then hearing the change about the kids and the lives around the world.
Speaker 6:But my really big why is? I went to college and I had a really unfortunate year with lots of unfortunate life circumstances and I decided to take a break because I was not in a good mental space. But during that time I really found my love for the Lord in a deepened relationship with Him. I mean, I grew up in church but I never knew what an adult, real relationship with Christ was like and I found so much healing through Him after all those circumstances and then it was just so hard on my heart of like doing something serving and I had been praying to God like, what do you want me to do with this break, with this time? I feel like it's something serving.
Speaker 6:And my mom, of course, was like if you live at home, you have to have a job. So she's sending me all these different, you know, like websites and job applications and stuff and I see, feed my Serving Children. And I was like, oh, I love Feed my Serving Children. And I was like, oh, I love Feed my Serving Children. That's what I did when I was a kid.
Speaker 1:Jules and Amy talk about their family service as a lifestyle and how, as Amy said in the opening, anybody can serve.
Speaker 7:Ben blast off Service was always a central part of our home. Something we do together and even like last weekend, we were at an event and my family was part of the host team and they, like we all, like serving together. On every holiday we serve, and so it's always been a very central part of our household is that, out of the abundance the Lord has allowed us to experience, to give to others and to serve.
Speaker 4:This past weekend in Fort Worth there was a man with dementia also, and it reminded me of my mom and she has since passed away but he was able to sit at the label table and label and give back, even though he didn't know what was going on around him. He was still able to give back and that is what I love about this mission is anybody can serve. We're all children of God. Is anybody concerned? We're all children of God.
Speaker 1:Hispanic Group. Hispanic Group is an advertising agency focused in the US Hispanic market that specializes in customized media solutions for businesses.
Speaker 2:It sure does. Desde estrategias de redes sociales hasta publicidad en medios tradicionales, ofrecen soluciones personalizadas y creativas adaptadas para alcanzar sus objetivos de marketing, all tailored to the diverse and rapidly growing segments of the Hispanic population across 42 Hispanic markets in the US and Latin America.
Speaker 1:Wow, you get all the great lines, but they use their cultural expertise to create strategies to deliver efficient results.
Speaker 2:Hispanic Group. Lleva tu marca al corazón de la comunidad hispana. Take your brand to the heart of the Hispanic community. Hispanic.
Speaker 1:Group. Their expertise lies in reaching the Hispanic market, leveraging its rich multiculturalism. Hispanic Group combines innovation, cultural insight and strategic collaboration to drive what Tangible results for their clients. I agree with everything you just said. Now, for more information, you can visit their website, where HispanicGroupnet Okay, that's HispanicGroupnet or I'll say it in Spanish HispanicGroupnet.
Speaker 2:Hispaticgroupnet.
Speaker 1:It's obvious to me when we were there that Feed my Starving Children is doing so much more than just sending food to children and families. It's changing lives, it's fostering spirituality. We here at Food for the Poor, a interdenominational ministry that works across the line in various churches and ministries, but it's all for the propagation of the gospel, it's all for the building of our spirituality. I mean, matthew 25, 40 is the foundational scripture.
Speaker 1:How much more can you say besides that that whatever you've done unto the least of these, you've done unto me? And that's where we hear Amy talk a lot about the spirituality of why they do what they do. And I love this because, as I sat back, I heard of the practical change that is taking place in their lives through these mobile packs, practical change that is taking place in their lives through these mobile packs, through the lives that they witnessed change. But then I heard Amy, really from a place of a center, a true north, if you will, of spirituality, talk a little bit about, well, her motivation spiritually to do what they do at Feed my Starving Children.
Speaker 2:Ben, fire up the engines.
Speaker 4:As kids are growing up, especially in the United States. We're given a lot, we have a lot, and when we are given a lot, a lot is required of us and kids just need to learn that they can give back. I have five kids of my own, I see it. They range from 10 to 24. So I see all the generations that are coming up and just being able to serve and to be able to have that relationship with Jesus Christ, like Megan says. That is so important Because, just like Megan said, there is so much going on in this world, they have so much to deal with these days and just to be able to give back is so special for them and just it'll. It'll stay with them a lifetime to do that. I mean, look at Jules Been packing since she was eight years old it has stayed with her and so they come even once. They're going to remember that and they're going to want to come back, andy Carr.
Speaker 2:VP of marketing for Feed my Starving Children. This guy is funny and at the same time I'm thinking to myself if he ever does a podcast, I think that's direct competition and I'm hoping we can beat that competition. But I digress.
Speaker 1:All right, this is what I want to do. Once you get a chance to meet Andy Carr in these next few moments, you'll probably want him to be a permanent part of this podcast, but enjoy this moment we had with Andy Carr, vice President of Marketing for Feed my Starving Children. What a guy. Listen.
Speaker 2:Well, this inspiration that I have here on my t-shirt says be kind. That is the one. That's the number, probably number three, number four on a lot of list of things to be a positive person on the next day, but I want to join Andy Carr, vp of Marketing for Feed my Starving Children today. Thank you for joining us on this wonderful day. It's wonderful because you're on today, that's right, welcome.
Speaker 3:Well, thanks, guys, danny and Paul, it's an honor. It's as we kind of started off talking before we came on air. You know, it's been a long time coming, in the sense of I've been down to your studios before but here I am in my office at home in Minnesota. But I think it just represents how connected we are across the efforts that we're all out there doing and sharing about the incredible work of Food for the Poor, and Helping my Starving Children is a part of that. So I look forward to chatting with you guys here today and to all your listeners. I'm thrilled to be a part of a partnership that has such tremendous impact across the globe.
Speaker 1:Both Danny and I wanted to ask a very important question, because we're going to talk a little bit about your recent trip to our facilities in Jamaica. The bottom line is, and I'm here wearing my shirt and the question to you today is where's our souvenirs? I mean, did you bring anything back from Jamaica for us, or what's going on?
Speaker 6:I got a.
Speaker 1:Jamaica mug here for those watching on YouTube.
Speaker 3:Anything Right? Well, I didn't. Must have been, didn't? Javier and Karen come by your office? And I mean I gave them an extra suitcase full of Jamaican coffee and Jamaican candy and all kinds of you know uh all, all of the different, uh, jamaican spices. You know, and so they might, you know. Maybe they got held up in customs because I didn't come on to Minnesota, I didn't get to hang out with you guys down in Florida. So maybe we'll have to check with their maybe in their closet or something.
Speaker 1:As my wife would say. How convenient. Yeah, I believe, andy. Well, listen, you know, seriously, you know, we're just really at in just absolute awe of the work that we get to do together Feed my starving children, food for the poor. Just to give some statistics, this was in 2022. 3.4 billion for those of you that did not hear me clearly, that's billion with a B of meals. Since the inception of this partnership, where Feed my Starving Children has sent out 3.4 billion meals across the globe and, of that, Food for the Poor has been a part of sending more than a billion of those meals into the countries where Food for the Poor serves. Would that be accurate in saying that, andy?
Speaker 3:That is accurate and breaking news. As you quoted a statistic there. From 2022, that number has continued to climb rapidly, and just at the end of last year, in 2023, and stepping into the first part of 2024, we have crested the 4 billion meal mark. So God is continuing to provide and we are continuing to act, and because you know there's tremendous need, global hunger is greater than any time in human history. The number of people on this planet that are in need of food today, by sheer numbers, is greater than it's ever been, and the great thing about that is this is not like we're searching for the cure to cancer or an unsolvable problem when I tell people about how significant hunger is and think of it as a disease.
Speaker 3:We have the cure. It is food, and there is plenty of food to go around for everybody. It's a matter of distribution and there is lots of reasons that we could go into why it's not in the right places, but we know this, especially for kids, that we're not going to sit idly by while that happens, that there's people that can't care for themselves or need a hand up, and so, with amazing partners like you, food for the Poor, over a billion meals Think about that. That's a number that you just can't get your head around. But you know what? God knows every one of those kids and those people that have received that bowl of food because of your actions and the actions of the people that come alongside of us. So we have the cure. Don't sit idly by. Act now, because we can help people.
Speaker 1:Powerful. You know, one of the things we love is the versatility of these Manipac meals, also for the families You're talking about just in your trip to Jamaica and we're not even going back to other places that you've been around the world but Manipac Meals in communities feeding in nutritional centers, homeless on the streets, those who are children of special needs, every case, every condition and almost every environment. This isn't a one-size-fits-all with these Manipac Meals, because it truly is crossing or expanding its reach into wherever someone has a need. As you said, no communicable diseases, no genetic disorders, it's just hunger and food. Am I missing anything?
Speaker 3:No, you're not. It's that simple, paul. I mean, and it's an issue that I think a lot of people kind of look out their window in the West, or in the US in particular, and they see food insecurity, they see people that might have needs, but we're talking a whole different level of simply people that have the ultra poor that live on less than a couple bucks a day, ultra poor that live on less than a couple bucks a day. You know, we have access and safety nets in so many places and I'll tell you, I can say firsthand, in Jamaica, food for the poor is the safety net and so for us to help resource food for the poor, if you took food for the poor out of Jamaica, there would be tens of hundreds of thousands of people on the brink of disaster, would be tens of hundreds of thousands of people on the brink of disaster.
Speaker 3:I saw it firsthand. You guys are that network and are that gold standard of help for people at all levels of need. That is just incredible, and my hat's off to the vision that the Mahfoud family had and setting the course in Jamaica that has expanded well beyond that. But firsthand, you have turned that country around and the people in Jamaica are extremely grateful. Everywhere we went, when we were part of Food for the Poor, they were like wow, thank you guys for being here.
Speaker 1:There was something that was in the DNA of Feed my Starving Children that we found out, and we heard this, and we heard it several times, and we heard it even in your trip to Jamaica, and I want you to explain this. We turn hunger into hope with our two hands. Yeah, tell us a little bit about that.
Speaker 3:Yeah, you know, the beauty about Femalist Starving Children is, it's a very simple thing, as we've described the, the solution of food, vitamins, vegetables, soy and rice that come together in this bag, um, but, but what we found is is here on this side of the bag. I talked that that we feed on both sides of this bag, the, the bag of food that feeds the, the material body, uh, in those that are starving, um, but the people on this side of the bag that are activated with your own two hands. What's lacking in this world tremendously is hope. And who is hope? You know? Obviously, jesus, that comes in the bread of life. But how you activate people to understand that is a way that when people come together, they put on those wonderful hairnets which I? Those hairnets, yes, I'm telling you what I mean. You know, if you, if you don't think that that you've had, you haven't had fun until you put on a hairnet. That's all I'm saying.
Speaker 2:It transforms you, it does, it really does, it is, and the beard one, if you rock all.
Speaker 3:Both. For you viewers here or listeners, I should say that don't have the pleasure of seeing this. Yeah, I am completely bald and I get to put on a hairnet and I get to say that's a wishful thinking.
Speaker 1:I get to put on a hairnet, I get to put on a hairnet.
Speaker 3:Right, I get to put on a hairnet, but I don't want to miss out on the fun Because, honestly, here's what happens, guys. Here's what happens when you, you turn hunger into hope, you actively participate with your own two hands and you see, what happens often in our world, in our country, is people get information coming in through their ears and through their eyes and it bounces around in their head and they don't know what to do. Well, we know what to do. Come and put on a hairnet, use your hands, and what's going to happen? You're going to have joy explode in your heart and your spirit is going to be fed.
Speaker 3:Now, here's a little secret. I don't usually tell people this, but when you put on that hairnet, it's actually a brainwave inhibitor. It slows down your brain so that your hands can activate your heart, because your heart is where you will experience the joy of joys. And when you turn hunger into hope, because that hope and you find out right when you're done packing here's how many kids that you've helped feed today and that food is real and it's going to go somewhere and, as you mentioned the statistics, it's over 1.2 million people a day that get fed those very kind of meals that you have helped prepare. If that didn't give you joy, I would just say why don't you just stop and say what is it that I need in my life that's going to help me experience the joy? And I'll tell you. Helping other people is going to do that for you.
Speaker 1:And some of those stories that I was telling Danny the other day. I mean it'll make the hair on the back of your arm stand up. I mean it's just harrowing. But what really got us curious from this trip to Jamaica was the connection that came through the eyes of two teenagers, a 12 and a 16-year-old. Now, before you talk to us about what they saw and what they experienced, one of the things that I can't I think we can't get over is the fact that I know what I was doing at 12 and at 16, and it wasn't going to Jamaica to go feed some families, you know, on my off time, spring break. Wherever, you know, whatever the case may be, it was, it was something totally different. This is what caught our attention. So tell us a little bit about these two young people that were just amazing in their efforts to help families.
Speaker 3:Yeah, two special people, Natalie and Brody, that both came with their moms on this trip. And here's the cool thing about them. You see, when you participate in packing meals with Be my Sturm Children, you can start doing that when you're five years old, and over half of our volunteers that actually come and help put these meals together are kids. These are kids that God is using and, I believe, planting the seeds for a better future. You see, these kids that have experienced this, Natalie and Brody. Natalie grew up here in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis. St Paul has relocated recently to Denver, Colorado, and two stories you know. Also, Brody is from Fargo, North Dakota, and has been up there where both of these places we do things called mobile packs. You guys came and saw our site where you were at in Richardson, Texas. But you've also seen when we've come down to South Florida and done a packing event, and we've done multiple packing events with food for the poor where we come together. Well, you see, Natalie and Brody, Natalie grew up packing meals with feed my starving children here. When Natalie went back home to Colorado the very next day she went to a mobile pack in Colorado. They landed at like midnight and went and packed food. They sent me the pictures Her mom and Natalie. They had pictures of her the next day at a mobile pack at her school, a Christian school out in the Denver area. Brody, who has been packing since he was five years old.
Speaker 3:We did an event in January in Fargo, North Dakota. That was the 10th year they had packed meals and it was a 10 million meal mobile pack. We had over 27,000 volunteers over a 10-day period that they rented out the Fargo Dome, where North Dakota State plays football, and the whole football field was covered where over 2,000 people at a time would come and pack meals. And guess who was at every one of those sessions? Brody, why? Because he knows the difference that this makes and so he wanted to be able to go see this food in action. And so that's what both Natalie and Brody got to do and it was wonderful. Everywhere we went, the people. They didn't want to hear from an old guy like me that was numbers and all this I do Right, yeah, I mean we, but that isn't that our hope, that we're doing the same thing where we're feeding kids, because these kids are in some situations.
Speaker 3:They didn't pick to be there and the moms, they aren't there going. Oh, I don't think I want to feed my kids today. I don't pick to be there. And the moms? They aren't there going. Oh, I don't think I want to feed my kids today. I don't think that's the case. They want to do good. That's there, and so we're trying to give them the tools to make that happen. And when they see kids like Brody and Natalie come alongside a group of people and be like, wow, there's kids that care about us, and then we get to tell them the story about how this comes together, they're like oh, my goodness, there really is hope. Right, that's what we're doing. We're turning hunger into hope.
Speaker 2:And I wouldn't doubt that either Natalie or Brody, maybe sometime in the future knock on the Feed my Starving Children door and say can I join your team? Wow, powerful. We're speaking with Andy Carr, vp of Marketing from Feed my Starving Children today and, andy, we have a clip of Andy on location, andy in Jamaica, and I guess you were in a fancy kitchen there that preps all the Manipac meals and just makes magic happen. Let's take a look.
Speaker 3:Well, I got to tell you, being down here in Jamaica and seeing firsthand the people that are using these Manipac meals the Manipac meals that volunteers and donors came together on that side of the bag to be able to put this food into these bags. And this is part of our machine pack that came down here and provides the vitamins, vegetables, soy and rice and to see where they are serving the homeless community here in Jamaica. It is an absolute, just joy. And to see all the staff that are passionate about helping people in their community and they've taken all these local ingredients. I mean you've got vegetables and coconut milk and all kinds of just spices and flavoring that's going to be added to this man pack so that the people on the streets can have dignity. They're not just getting any old food, they're getting special food. I got to tell you as much love that goes into this bag. What is happening here has just been a joy.
Speaker 2:If I list the ingredients for you once again vitamins, vegetables, vegetables, soy and rice. I think andy carr can put something together. And please, at the end, at the end of the day, I want to hear you.
Speaker 3:Yeah, man, you betcha yeah, man, you betcha, we, we, uh, we experienced that yaman, all the all over the place and uh, and I, I told all all those jamaican folks that, uh, I want to, I want to teach them how to do it. The Minnesota style so you betcha, is a big Minnesota phrase. You know that we're known and kind of made fun of, and so I said we got to add that on, and so by the end of our time together they were saying I said do you guys like Manipec? Yeah, man, you betcha. Thank you guys, it's a great partnership, as you said.
Speaker 3:Uh, you know, kind of at the top, the impact that food for the poor has. Uh, I'm blessed to have been to Jamaica a couple of times now and uh hope to make it a regular stop as I get to go out and visit with folks uh across the globe, uh, that we see the impact. But I've also seen you in action in other countries uh, and and walked with uh, your leadership and every person. I've been in your headquarters down there, been out on events with you guys, and we're aligned because of Jesus and the heart to help people. We don't have any people in any of these places. We ask people for them to support us so that we can support you.
Speaker 3:We're really good at finding folks like Food for the Poor that are out there in the trenches with just the love of Jesus, and we want to give them the tools so they can go further, faster and pour into the people with basic needs. They say an empty stomach has no ears and so the opportunity to share Christ. You meet their physical needs and they're like why are you guys doing this? And then you get to say it's because of this amazing guy. You need to meet him. His name's Jesus.
Speaker 2:Amen, I want to end there, but we usually always end on a positive note. He had a plethora of positive notes beforehand, so I just feel bad asking you, andy you have the last word today and please provide us a positive note for the day.
Speaker 3:You know, the positive note for today is there right now. Listen, listen. Do you hear that? No, no, you're listening with your ears. Okay, listen with your heart for a second. Do you hear that? That's the cry of a mom somewhere across the globe right now? Do you hear her? She's saying God, I can't feed my kids. What am I going to do? Can you hear that? Now, listen, god's got a response. God's got a response because you heard that, and the response and a positive note is you can do something about it. Go help food for the poor. Come back meals with me, my starving children. The positive note is you can do something about it and God is going to do it through you. He wanted you to hear that prayer so that he can use you in a simple way and, if nothing else, would you say a prayer for that mom right now, because you are what God has chosen to hear that today, and if that isn't positive, I don't know what is.
Speaker 2:Hey everyone. Thanks for listening to Beyond the Plate. We love having you here.
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