Retail Sustainability Conference 2012

Members from our Corporate Donations Team will be representing Matthew 25: Ministries at the Retail Sustainability Conference in Phoenix, Arizona next week. This conference is an extraordinary opportunity to share what we do with sustainability and compliance executives from all retail segments. We’re honored to be a part of this top-notch event hosted by Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), one of the top organizations in the nation representing America’s leading retailers.

Corporate waste is an inevitable part of doing business, but Matthew 25: Ministries offers a sustainable, humanitarian alternative to throwing away overstock, off-spec, and unsalable products. Donating to Matthew 25: Ministries provides corporations with many financial incentives, saves products from the landfill, and helps the poorest of the poor and disaster victims. It’s a win, win, win for everybody! We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to share about our work with so many retailers and consumer product companies. Thank you, RILA, for this amazing opportunity.

Visit the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) Facebook page for more information.

Any and all links to outside sources and materials are intended for reference only. Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of Matthew 25: Ministries and its affiliates.

Be Careful What You Wish For

I was swimming in the ocean to cool down after one of our many clinics in Haiti. The mountains can be easily seen from the water. They are breathtaking, truly one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. I commented to the other members of the team that I would love to see those mountains up close someday. 

The entire trip continued smoothly, and we accomplished so much. Our last day was scheduled to be a free day in order to give the team members an opportunity to experience Haiti beyond our typical work sites. But what started out as an “easy” day suddenly turned into a very long day. 

First, part of our team got stuck in bumper to bumper traffic heading back to where we stay because the road was closed due to a group of Haitians demonstrating—they were unhappy with some political issues. So the team members turned around and headed back toward the city. Along the way they had a close encounter with a carjacking, but they eventually got back safe and sound to Port-au-Prince to meet up with the rest of us. 

So we decided to go the long way around through the mountains to get back to where we were staying.  This trek was 4 and half hours instead of the usual 2 that we were accustomed to, but I was happy we went on this long drive.  Our entire team got to view some of the most beautiful parts of Haiti.  When people think of Haiti, they often think of hot and densely populated areas with a lot of concrete. But up in the mountains it was the complete opposite. It was cool and the people were spread out, not on top of each other. The landscape was covered by beautiful plants that had not been cut down for fuel. 

Halfway through the trip I remembered the comment I had made in the water.  While I don’t believe that God made all of those bad things happen, I do believe that he used them to teach me a lesson—no matter how hard I plan, things out of my control will happen. The beautiful country side was a way for me to find peace in what had happened.

Haiti is a place that is improving. The love that I have for the people there grew even more on this trip.

Any and all links to outside sources and materials are intended for reference only. Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of Matthew 25: Ministries and its affiliates.

How Can I Get Involved?

When the tornadoes hit the Midwest, I began planning to visit the affected areas and see how Matthew 25: Ministries could help. One of my close friends, Levi, lives very close to some of the hardest hit areas. When I needed a place to stay, Levi and his wife Kristin, along with their two children Colton and Kylie, welcomed me in. After seeing the hardship and devastation caused by the tornadoes, it was so great to be with him and his family. I was able to escape from everything for a few hours and “recharge my batteries." This was very important for me, because it helped to clear my mind. Being away from my family is hard for me and spending time with Levi and his family was exactly what I needed. 

I want to thank Levi, Kristin, Colton and Kylie for the help they gave me during the first couple weeks after the tornadoes. A lot of people admire Matthew 25: Ministries’ work with the poor, but it’s only accomplished through the support of many people. Without friends, family, volunteers, staff and partners, we would not be able to do what we do. 

The next time you want to get involved and help others in need through Matthew 25: Ministries, remember it's as easy as lending a hand, time or resources.

Any and all links to outside sources and materials are intended for reference only. Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of Matthew 25: Ministries and its affiliates.

Jamaica Mission Trip

I recently got back from a trip to Jamaica. I wasn't on an exotic cruise or a vacation to one of the top resorts. I went with a Matthew 25: Ministries’ mission team to visit places that we support. The country of Jamaica is so beautiful and the people mirror their surroundings, but they are in dire need.

We visited several hospitals that were packed full of patients hoping to see a doctor. Unfortunately, most would be turned away, only to have to come back the next day and try again. Their health care is decades behind ours. A patient may have to wait 6 months for a surgery and then it may be cancelled at the last minute because there isn't enough staff or supplies to perform it.

We visited another place that cares for both physically and mentally challenged children. It was very hard to see and experience this. While all the children are being cared for and loved, I could tell that the facility is understaffed and in need of more help. The children stay in large, bare rooms without any activities to fill their time. It broke my heart to see children living like this. If it were up to me, I would bring them all home with me, but that is not a reality. We must continue to support these care givers and provide what they need to care for these incredible children. These were only a few of the many places we visited, and I feel truly blessed that we are able to help them. 

View photos from Matthew 25: Ministries' mission trip to Jamaica.

Any and all links to outside sources and materials are intended for reference only. Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of Matthew 25: Ministries and its affiliates.
 

Disaster Update: Tri-State Tornadoes

On my way through Henryville, Indiana I drove past several ambulances, fire trucks and other emergency vehicles all in a line. At the end of that line, was a hearse, likely transporting a victim of Friday's tornadoes. A parade of cars were following the hearse, and in this small town it looked as if everyone was there for the procession.

When I began this trip to Henryville, my mind was going over our relief efforts and what supplies are needed, but the sight of the hearse brought my thoughts back to people of the town. While we concentrate on our disaster relief work and all the things that need to be done, we need to remind ourselves to focus on the people themselves, the loved ones they've lost and the hardships they are facing. We must remember the importance of supporting those affected by the storms mentally and spiritually.

View information on our disaster relief efforts.

Any and all links to outside sources and materials are intended for reference only. Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of Matthew 25: Ministries and its affiliates.

"When I Was Hungry..."

On a trip to Nicaragua in 2008, my father came across a group of children. He offered them toys, but one of the children looked him straight in the eyes and asked if he could have food instead. My dad says he knew in that moment, he was looking into the eyes of starvation. What child turns down toys for food?

It had always been a wish shared by my father and I that one day we would be able to produce our own food here at Matthew 25: Ministries. This moment in Nicaragua pushed us to really start thinking about how we could make it happen, and start moving forward on planning the facility.

Prasco generously came alongside us in this vision. With their support, this dream became a reality. In 2010, we opened the Prasco Food Processing Center here in our facility. We are now able to package a nutritionally enhanced rice-soy blend for only 9 cents per serving and assemble 30 seven-serving bags of food per minute.

The creation of the Prasco Food Processing Center has given us the capability to quickly respond to natural disasters as well as provide on-going aid to the hungry. It allowed us to send 1 million meals to earthquake/tsunami victims in Japan. It enabled us to get desperately needed protein into the diets of orphans in Haiti. And it has fed thousands of hungry people right here in Greater Cincinnati.

Today a small team of Matthew 25: Ministries staff visited Prasco for a presentation to express our deep appreciation for their continued support. During the presentation, my father and I both spoke about the profound impact Prasco has made on our organization and the lives of those we serve. We then had the privilege of serving the rice-soy blend to the staff at Prasco so that they could taste it. It was a big hit!

It was such a meaningful afternoon spent with dear friends and partners. We are so blessed by Prasco’s generosity and their heart for the poorest of the poor.

Any and all links to outside sources and materials are intended for reference only. Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of Matthew 25: Ministries and its affiliates.