Food for Poor closer to goal, more help needed

BY MARCY SHORTUSE - The island’s response to the latest project initiated by Boca Grande Hope for Haitians was well received at their presentation given on Thursday, Feb. 21, at the Gasparilla Inn Beach Club. More than $108,000 has been raised toward their $249,000 goal.

The newest project, located in Manneville, Haiti, will be called Friendship Village III. At last Thursday’s presentation Angel Aloma, executive director of Food For The Poor, and island resident Father Jerome Carosella spoke about the great need in Haiti, and how this newest village will be a blessing for many.

He shared his story about traveling to Haiti in January, and it hit home with many in the crowd just how profound the poverty is there.

“You can see all the news clips on the poverty in Haiti, but when you’re there it makes a much bigger impact,” said Ben Scott, one of the directors of the island’s Hope for Haitians group. “The number of people that Food for the Poor helps and feeds every day is astonishing.”

The Manneville village is the third to be built in the four years since the island organization was created.

To find out more about Food For The Poor and how you can contribute, go to foodforthepoor.org/bocagrande or call Ben Scott at (231)883-3449.