One of the largest hunger and poverty relief charity in the US

And the Care of Those
In Need

Ferdinand Mahfood founded Food For The Poor in 1982. FFTP launched its first Micro-enterprise program in 1984, but it's not until 1988 that its hunger and poverty relief operations really reached a more mature stage. While FFTP was founded on the religious principle that it is our moral duty to clothe and feed the poor (Mathew:25), Food For The Poor is neutral, impartial, apolitical, and encompassing of all religions and beliefs. FFTP holds the preservation of human dignity and the care of those in need as a core principle. Our assistance programs are based on a sustainable and holistic approach to poverty alleviation. It is our goal to demonstrate that poverty is not inevitable.

Hunger Relief

Our food distribution programs provide food to those who cannot afford it or lack access to nutritious meals regardless of their religion or background. Our hunger relief efforts require the implementation of complex food distribution logistics that involve warehousing, transportation to remote areas, establishing distribution centers, community gardens, and agricultural development projects aimed at increasing local food production.

Our program includes the following solutions:

Distribution of MannaPacks: MannaPacks contain a blend of rice, soy protein, dehydrated vegetables, and a mixture of essential vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, and zinc. These ingredients are carefully selected to provide a balanced and nutritious meal that can help combat malnutrition and promote overall health.
Family & Community Gardens: Food produced from individual gardens encourages healthy eating and provides vital nutrients.
Community Markets: They Provide residents with food, supplies, and services and help support the economy of the community.

Poverty Relief

We expanded our hunger relief programs to include poverty interventions to have a lasting impact on the families we help. These programs aim to address the root causes of poverty and improve the overall well-being of impoverished individuals and communities. The initiatives include job training programs, microfinance initiatives, access to education and healthcare, and infrastructure development.

Our program includes the following types of solutions:

Housing: A home helps people establish strong social, economic, and cultural ties in their community and enables them to live and raise families in a safe, supportive environment.
Community Health Centers:: Residents have access to services supporting health and wellness.
Clean Water: Access to clean water helps promote good health and hygiene, lowers the risk of death, and halts the spread of disease.
Micro-enterprise: Microenterprise development contributes to poverty alleviation by creating sustainable pathways out of poverty for individuals and families. By generating income, building assets, and creating employment opportunities, microenterprises help lift people out of poverty and improve overall economic well-being in communities.

Sustainable Development Goals

No Hunger

End hunger for families struggling in poverty and provide accessibility to nutritious food.

No Poverty

Eliminate poverty and build long-term resilience and sustainability.

Good Health

Prevent unnecessary suffering for families who are held back in poverty due to treatable illnesses.

Literacy

Providing access to education empowers the next generation to break the poverty cycle.

How Your Generosity
Made an Impact

In 2024, administrative expenses represented 3.1% of the total expenses, while program services, including donated goods, cash grants, and cash purchases, accounted for 87.9%. Donated Goods accounted for 71.6% of revenue, while Cash, Pledges, and other Income totaled 28.4%.

Preserving Human
Dignity Through Care

2022

FFTP Celebrates 40th anniversary.

2019

Expands operations to include Covid-19 relief.

2012

FFTP Thanks the donors for their loving generosity and support making it possible to help save lives and tranform communites in the porest countries it serves.

2011

FFTP celebrates 25 years of serving the poor in Haiti.

2010

FFTP responds to 7.0 earthquare in Haiti with food, water, medicines, building supplies, tools, and hygiene kits.

2009

FFTP expands to feed more than 2 milliion people each day, six days a week throughout the countries it serves.
The Taiwan ICDF deepens its partnerships with FFTP by donating aid to the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

2008

FFTP is ranked largest hunger and poverty relief charity in the U.S. by The Chronicle of Philanthropy.

2007

FFTP relocates headquarters to Coconut Creek, FL.

2005

FFTP implements first aquaculture project 'The Chamalecon Tilapia Project' in Honduras.

2004

FFTP distributes more than 138 million pounds of food in the countries it serves.

2001

FFTP launches first fishing village in Old Pera, Jamaica.
FFTP is recognized as 4th largest hunger and poverty relief charity in the Unites States.

1997

FFTP opens a new warehouse in Haiti.

1996

FFTP expands and begins serving the poor in Central America (El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Honduras).

1995

FFTP builds first school 'Ti Ayiti School' in Cite Soleil, Haiti

1993

FFTP launches its first program targetted to help orphans by building a dorm to house 24 street boys 'Lazarus Project'.

1992

FFTP extended disaster relief to USA for Hurricane Andrew by supplying food, batteries, and first aid kids to neighborhoos in Florida.
FFTP drills first water well in Haiti.

1988

FFTP launches education support program Delivering Educational Support to Kids. FFTP Ships nearly 5 million pounds of school furniture to Caribbean schools.
FFTP completes first disaster relief operation to respond to Hurricane Gilbert in Jamaica.
FFTP distributes good from its warehouse in Kingston.

1985

FFTP builds first home in Jamaica.

1984

FFTP launches Banana Bark - its first micro-enterprise program

1982

Following a transformative visit to a poorhouse in Kingston, Jamaica, Ferdinand Mahfood founded Food For The Poor to address poverty in the region.

Accountable.

Food For The Poor is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to responsible stewardship and full transparency. Your contributions are tax-deductible under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). Tax ID: #59-2174510.

We're honored to be independently recognized for our integrity and impact, and we remain dedicated to open reporting.

Since 1982, 6 Million Donors Have Made It Possible for Us to Provide:

More than 4.7 Billion Meals

96,381 Safe & Secure Homes

105,415 Tractor-Trailers of Essential Aid

Meal totals reflect food shipments from 2006–2025. Shipments from 2006–2015 were converted from pounds to meals (4 meals per pound) and combined with reported meal totals from 2016–2025. Home construction totals and tractor-trailer shipments represent cumulative impact from 1982–2025.